Coltrane's "Equinox"

The vernal equinox was yesterday. 12 hours of day-12 hours of night. Days are just getting longer from here, friends! I like to listen to John Coltrane’s “Equinox” (from Coltrane’s Sound) on March 20-21 and on the autumnal equinox as well. Because Trane has recorded so many records that people consider landmark recordings, records like Coltrane’s Sound often get overlooked. It’s a shame. Another example that instantly pops to mind is Crescent, a superb date that is not ignored, but overshadowed by critics of its day because it was released in the same year as A Love Supreme, 1964. Anyway I digress: “Equinox” is a great tune—as surmised by the intricate breakdown it received from Lewis Porter in his book John Coltrane: His Life and Music—as are the other tracks on the record. I have never walked along Central Park West in the last decade without thinking of Trane’s song of the same name. And he’s got McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones on the dates, so ¾ of the classic quartet is in place for the sessions. Enjoy.

Celebrate Ornette Coleman

Today is Ornette Coleman's 77th birthday. For those of you who may not be acquainted with his music, when he showed up in NYC after recording an intriguing first record-according to the now-legendary story-during a six-week run (was originally slated to be two weeks but was extended b/c of the huge crowds) at the Five Spot, everyone showed up. Miles, Sonny Rollins, Diz, Monk, Coltrane, you name it- and all of the jazz critics of the day. His style was so unorthodox, so different that they all had to come out and see him. I provided an explanation of his melange of sound he called harmolodics here, but no matter what it says, it's best to listen. Today NYC's Columbia U radio honors him by playing his music for 24 hours straight- the WKCR birthday broadcast. I am streaming the broadcast right now thru iTunes. Give it a listen.