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| 1. | A Love Supreme, Pt. 1: Acknowledgement
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| 2. | A Love Supreme, Pt. 2: Resolution
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| 3. | A Love Supreme, Pt. 3: Pursuance / Pt. 4: Psalm
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Jazz / Modal Music; Avant-Garde; Post-Bop; Avant-Garde Jazz; Hard Bop; Free Jazz
Recorded: December 9, 1964, Van Gelder Recording Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey
Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by Erick Labson.
John Coltrane - Tenor Saxophone, Vocal
McCoy Tyner - Piano
Jimmy Garrison - Bass
Elvin Jones - Drums
A LOVE SUPREME is the essential example of the genius of John Coltrane. In what has become the apotheosis of jazz music, this eminently accessible work bridges the gap between music and spirituality, between art and life. With the ultimate incarnation of the jazz quartet, Coltrane brings together all of his turbulent elements into a cohesive paean to spirituality, one which is fully appreciable by the uninitiated.
A LOVE SUPREME is a 33-minute work divided into four movements. "Acknowledgment" starts the album with a heraldic summoning from Coltrane's tenor saxophone, full and joyous, which approximates the tone of the prayer he provides in the album's liner notes. The solo that follows reveals an artist whose spiritual depth and emotional urgency are matched by an adherence to logic and a resolve to achieve one goal above all--communication. Each simple musical statement is either followed by a motivic development or countered with a conversational response. Coltrane climaxes with a distilled four-note motif echoing the album's title, which he plays with by sequencing it through a wide array of tonalities. Finally, the band comes in, reiterating this idea, chanting the mantra "A Love Supreme."
"Acknowledgment" is followed by the torrential release of "Resolution," whose melody Coltrane fervently states to the animated accompaniment of his superb rhythm section. Laying the groundwork is drummer Elvin Jones, who approximates the effect of multiple percussionists feeding off of each other, creating an enormous texture of rhythm. McCoy Tyner's colorful piano clusters act as gusts of wind supporting Trane's soaring expressions. Bassist Jimmy Garrision takes the low road, keeping everyone on track. With support like this, Coltrane is free to explore the uncharted depths of his soul. On "Resolution," we can hear the very fabric of Trane's voice being stretched to the limit, as if even the horn which he has mastered is not a worthy enough vehicle for this man's spirit.
The rousing "Pursuance" features some vigorously swinging playing from Tyner, furiously followed by Coltrane's climaxes in an inspired hurling of ideas. Bassist Garrison brings us to A LOVE SUPREME's conclusion, an extended "Psalm" that acts as a resolved denouement in which Trane slowly muses over a lush bed of tranquil sounds--almost as if he were reflecting upon the wisdom achieved at this apex of his spiritual journey. Although the music is slowed, the level of intensity is maintained, as if we've reached a plateau upon which we may ponder what is pronounced in the liner notes, "Elation--Elegance--Exaltation--All from God." Via John Coltrane.
John Coltrane saw his album-length suite A Love Supreme as his gift to God. The world has come to see it as a classic -- not only Coltrane's best known work, but one of the most influential jazz records ever made.
This edition, newly remastered from a recently discovered first generation master tape by original recording engineer Rudy Van Gelder, presents the suite as you've never heard it before.
"A Love Supreme wasn't a jazz record. They were just trying to make a musical statement." - Ravi Coltrane
"John Coltrane had complete empathy with what was going on around him. He could see the world, and this music is a reflection of that empathy, and it's something to aspire to - spiritually, personally, and musically." - Branford Marsalis
* Ashley Kahn - Liner Notes, Reissue Producer
* Bill Levenson - Reissue Supervisor
* Bob Thiele - Cover Photo, Original Cover Photography, Original Session Producer, Producer
* Bryan Koniarz - Reissue Producer
* Cameron Mizell - Production Coordination
* Charles Stewart - Photography
* Chuck Stewart - Photography
* Edward Odowd - Design
* Erick Labson - Digital Remastering
* Esmond Edwards - Photography
* George Gray - Cover Design
* Hollis King - Art Direction
* Isabelle Wong - Package Design
* Jason Claiborne - Design, Graphic Design
* Joe Alper - Photography
* Joe Lebow - Liner Design
* Ken Druker - Executive Producer, Reissue Producer
* Kevin Reeves - Mastering
* Lee Tanner - Photography
* Mark Smith - Production Assistant
* Michael Cuscuna - Liner Notes, Reissue Producer
* Peter Keepnews - Notes Editing
* Ron Warwell - Design
* Rudy Van Gelder - Engineer, Mastering, Restoration
* Sherniece Smith - Art Coordinator, Art Producer
* Victor Kalin - Illustrations, Paintings
Easily one of the most important records ever made, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme was his pinnacle studio outing that at once compiled all of his innovations from his past, spoke of his current deep spirituality, and also gave a glimpse into the next two and a half years (sadly, those would be his last). Recorded at the end of 1964, Trane's classic quartet of Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, and Jimmy Garrison stepped into the studio and created one of the most thought-provoking, concise, and technically pleasing albums of their bountiful relationship (not to mention his best-selling to date). From the undulatory (and classic) bassline at the intro to the last breathy notes, Trane is at the peak of his logical yet emotionally varied soloing while the rest of the group is remarkably in tune with Coltrane's spiritual vibe. Composed of four parts, each has a thematic progression leading to an understanding of spirituality through meditation. From the beginning, "Acknowledgement" is the awakening of sorts that trails off to the famous chanting of the theme at the end, which yields to the second act, "Resolution," an amazingly beautiful piece about the fury of dedication to a new path of understanding. "Persuance" is a search for that understanding, and "Psalm" is the enlightenment. Although he is at times aggressive and atonal, this isn't Trane at his most adventurous (pretty much everything recorded from here on out progressively becomes much more free, and live recordings from this period are extremely spirited), but it certainly is his best attempt at the realization of concept -- as the spiritual journey is made amazingly clear. A Love Supreme clocks in at just over 30 minutes, but if it had been any longer it could have turned into a laborious listen. As it stands, just enough is conveyed. It is almost impossible to imagine a world without A Love Supreme having been made, and it is equally impossible to imagine any jazz collection without it.
---Jack LV Isles, All Music Guide |
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