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The World According to John Coltrane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The World According to John Coltrane is a documentary film about 

saxophonist John Coltrane.^[1]

Contents   [hide]  1 Overview 2 Musicians interviewed include 3 Tracks 4 References

[edit]Overview

Produced with the cooperation of his widow Alice Coltrane, the documentary

 focuses on the later period of

 Coltrane's work where he explored themes of Eastern spirituality. This is a 

retrospective documentary on the life

 and music of saxophonist John Coltrane, featuring reminiscences and 

interviews with his contemporaries and fellow  musicians.

The documentary is narrated by Ed Wheeler and directed by Robert Palmer and Toby Byron. Because Coltrane died

 from liver disease in 1967, there isn't that much footage available and you sense they were struggling to find source

 material. Hence the reliance on reminiscences and lots of fancy zooms on stills. Of great interest to Coltrane 

scholars will be the recording of John Coltrane while in the Navy (1947) playing the alto saxophone (on Charlie 

Parker's "Ko-Ko")--by far the earliest recording of the saxophonist that has yet surfaced, and a few excerpts from 

concert and studio performances. Most of the footage is in black and white, apart from an excerpt of Coltrane's

 last quartet (featuring wife Alice Coltrane on piano and Rashied Ali on drums) performing in concert in colour.

The documentary focuses very much on the middle period of Coltrane's career, with only brief references to his 

rhythm and blue roots, collaborations with Jimmy Heath, and his participation in theMiles Davis Quintet. Much of the 

documentary focuses on the classic John Coltrane Quartet (with pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones, and

 bassist Jimmy Garrison), from about the period of My Favorite Things to A Love Supreme.

Surprisingly, there is very little focus on John Coltrane's personal life - including his marriage to Alice Coltrane, his 

son Ravi, and the documentary even avoids talking about his death.

[edit]Musicians interviewed include

• Roscoe Mitchell (saxophonist)
• Rashied Ali (drummer)
• Tommy Flanagan (pianist)
• Jimmy Heath (saxophonist)
• Wayne Shorter (saxophonist)
• La Monte Young (composer)
• Alice Coltrane (wife, pianist, harpist)

[edit]Tracks

1. A Love Supreme
2. Alabama
3. Blue Monk
4. Dahomey Dance
5. Dear Lord
6. Eight Miles High
7. Giant Steps
8. Gospel Song 1
9. Gospel Song 2
10. Hot House
11. Impressions
12. Impressions 2
13. India
14. Koko
15. Moroccan Folk Song
16. My Favorite Things
17. My Favorite Things 2
18. Naima
19. Number One
20. Raga Bhimpalisi
21. Roscoe In Morocco
22. Round Midnight
23. So What
24. Things To Come

    The World According to John Coltrane
    Directed by	Robert Palmer, Toby Byron
    Written by	Robert Palmer
    Starring	Rashied Ali, Tommy Flanagan, Jimmy Heath, Wayne Shorter, La Monte Young, Alice Coltrane
    Distributed by	BMG Video
    Release date(s)	1990
    Running time	59:25 min.
    Language	English

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