A Love Supreme

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For other uses, see A Love Supreme (disambiguation).
A Love Supreme
A blue-tinted black-and-white photograph of Coltrane's face looking to the left, with the logo "A Love Supreme/John Coltrane" written in white bold Arial across the top.
Studio album by John Coltrane
Released February 1965 (1965-02)[1]
Recorded December 9, 1964
Studio Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, United States
Genre Avant-garde jazz, modal jazz, post-bop
Length 33:02
Language English ("Acknowledgement"), instrumental
Label Impulse!
Producer Bob Thiele
John Coltrane chronology
Crescent
(1964)Crescent1964		 A Love Supreme
(1965)		 The John Coltrane Quartet Plays
(1965)The John Coltrane Quartet Plays1965

A Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by John Coltrane's quartet in December 1964[2] and released by Impulse! Records in February 1965. It is generally considered to be Coltrane's greatest work, as it melded the hard bop sensibilities of his early career with the modal jazz and free jazz styles he adopted later.

The quartet recorded the album in one session on December 9, 1964, at the Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Coltrane's home in Dix Hills, Long Island, has been suggested as the site of inspiration for A Love Supreme.[3] Coltrane's exposure to Ahmadiyya Islam has also been suggested as a source of influence.[4]

Music

Elvin Jones in a black suit performing behind a drum kit
Coltrane's classic quartet was completed with the addition of percussionist Elvin Jones, who performs various non-traditional instruments on A Love Supreme

The album is a four-part suite, broken up into tracks: "Acknowledgement" (which contains the mantra that gave the suite its name), "Resolution", "Pursuance", and "Psalm." It is intended to be a spiritual album, broadly representative of a personal struggle for purity, and expresses the artist's deep gratitude as he admits to his talent and instrument as being owned not by him but by a spiritual higher power.[3] Coltrane plays exclusively tenor on all parts.

The album begins with the bang of a gong (tam-tam), followed by cymbal washes. Jimmy Garrison follows on bass with the four-note motif which structures the entire movement. Coltrane's solo follows. Besides soloing upon variations of the motif, at one point Coltrane repeats the four notes over and over in different transpositions. After many repetitions, the motif becomes the vocal chant "A Love Supreme", sung by Coltrane (accompanying himself via overdubs).[5]

In the final movement, Coltrane performs what he calls a "musical narration" (Lewis Porter describes it as a "wordless 'recitation'")[6] of a devotional poem he included in the liner notes. That is, Coltrane "plays" the words of the poem on saxophone, but does not actually speak them. Some scholars have suggested that this performance is a homage to the sermons of African-American preachers.[7] The poem (and, in his own way, Coltrane's solo) ends with the cry "Elation. Elegance. Exaltation. All from God. Thank you God. Amen."[8]

Reception and influence

Original issue
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 5/5 stars[9]
All About Jazz favorable[10]
Down Beat 5/5 stars[11]
Q 5/5 stars[12]
Rolling Stone 5/5 stars[13]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide 5/5 stars[14]
Deluxe edition
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 5/5 stars[15]
Mojo favorable[16]
Rolling Stone 5/5 stars[17]
The Sydney Morning Herald favorable[18]
Uncut 4/5 stars[19]
The Village Voice favorable[20]
The Wire favorable[21]
The Complete Masters
Review scores
Source Rating
Pitchfork Media 10/10[22]

A Love Supreme is often listed amongst the greatest jazz albums of all time.[23][24][25][26][27] It was also quite popular for a jazz album, selling about 500,000 copies by 1970, a number far exceeding Coltrane's typical Impulse! sales of around 30,000.[28] As further testimony to the recording's historic significance, the manuscript for the album is one of the National Museum of American History's "Treasures of American History," part of the collection of the Smithsonian Institution.[29]

In 1994, A Love Supreme was ranked number three in Colin Larkin's Top 100 Jazz Albums. Larkin described it as "one of the most profoundly moving records in all of jazz".[30] In 2003, the album was ranked number 47 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[31] The publication called it a "legendary album-long hymn of praise" and stated: "the indelible four-note theme of the first movement, 'Acknowledgement,' is the humble foundation of the suite. But Coltrane's majestic, often violent blowing (famously described as 'sheets of sound') is never self-aggrandizing. Aloft with his classic quartet..., Coltrane soars with nothing but gratitude and joy. You can't help but go with him."[31]

The Penguin Guide to Jazz selected this album as part of its suggested "Core Collection" and awarded it a "crown" stating that "it is without precedent and parallel, and though it must also be one of the best loved jazz records of all time it somehow remains remote from critical pigeonholing" calling it "immensely concentrated and rich."[32]

The album's influence has been extensive and diverse. Musicians ranging from tenor Joshua Redman[33] to the rock star Bono of U2, who mentions the album in their song "Angel of Harlem",[34] have singled out the influence of the album on their own work. Guitarists John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana have each credited the album as one of their greatest early influences, and recorded Love Devotion Surrender in 1973 as a tribute.[35] "Every so often this ceases to be a jazz record and is more avant-garde contemporary classical," remarked Neil Hannon, frontman of The Divine Comedy. "I love the combination of abstract piano that's all sort of 'clang', and weird chords with wailing saxophone over the top."[36]

The album was included in Robert Dimery's 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[37]

Other performances

Archie Shepp on stage in a suit playing saxophone
Archie Shepp, who played on the sextet versions of "Acknowledgement".

An alternative version of "Acknowledgement" was recorded the next day on December 10. This version, which included tenor saxophonist Archie Shepp and bassist Art Davis, did not feature Coltrane chanting "a love supreme", one reason he chose to issue the quartet version.[38]

The only live performance of the "Love Supreme" suite, from a July 26, 1965, performance at the Festival Mondial du Jazz Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, France, was also remastered and released in a 2002 two-CD set by Impulse! Records with the original album and additional studio outtakes.

Adaptations

Handwritten sheet music by Coltrane, with notes surrounding it
Coltrane's original handwritten sheet music for A Love Supreme includes a note reading "All paths lead to God"

Doug and Jean Carn recorded "Acknowledgement" with female vocals for their 1972 album Infant Eyes. John McLaughlin and Carlos Santana recorded a guitar version of "Acknowledgement," which they titled "A Love Supreme" on their 1973 collaboration Love Devotion Surrender. At the time, both were devotees of guru Sri Chinmoy.

Will Downing released an R&B cover version of the main theme, with the co-operation of John's widow Alice Coltrane, which reached number fourteen in the UK singles chart in 1988. Gumball recorded an alternative rock version of A Love Supreme as a bonus track on the 1994 Japanese release of Revolution On Ice. The suite has also been recorded several times by Branford Marsalis. It forms a track on the bonus CD for the 1994 compilation album Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool, four tracks on the 2002 Branford Marsalis Quartet album titled Footsteps of Our Fathers, and on the DVD "A Love Supreme Live in Amsterdam." Branford's brother Wynton recorded the suite in 2003 with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra.[39]

Sections of the suite have been performed by the David Murray Octet,[40] the Ballistic Brothers,[41] and the Bob Mintzer Big Band.[42] Turtle Island String Quartet released their album A Love Supreme in 2007, and the album features a cover version of the suite, along with other covers of various Coltrane charts.

A 1995 album titled Variations on A Love Supreme was composed by Fabrizio Cassol and Kris Defoort.

In 2007 José James recorded "Equinox" and "Resolution"' as a double A-Side limited-edition 10" for Brownswood Records. James, previously a rapper, added vocals to the tracks.

Jazz singer Kurt Elling recorded "Resolution" for his album Man in the Air. In this recording, Elling set lyrics to the music in his style of vocalese.

Track listing

All tracks composed by John Coltrane and published by Jowcol Music (BMI)

Side one
No. Recorded Take number Title Length
1. December 9, 1964 90243 Part 1: "Acknowledgement" 7:47
2. December 9, 1964 90244‒7 Part 2: "Resolution" 7:22
Side two
No. Recorded Take number Title Length
3. December 9, 1964 90245‒1 Part 3: "Pursuance"/Part 4: "Psalm" 17:53

Deluxe edition

Disc one
No. Recorded Take number Title Length
1. December 9, 1964 90243 Part 1: "Acknowledgement" 7:43
2. December 9, 1964 90244‒7 Part 2: "Resolution" 7:20
3. December 9, 1964 90245‒1 Part 3: "Pursuance" 10:42
4. December 9, 1964 90245‒1 Part 4: "Psalm" 7:05
Disc two
No. Recorded Take number Title Length
1. July 26, 1965 n/a Introduction by Andre Francis 1:13
2. July 26, 1965 n/a "Acknowledgement" (Live) 6:11
3. July 26, 1965 n/a "Resolution" (Live) 11:36
4. July 26, 1965 n/a "Pursuance" (Live) 21:30
5. July 26, 1965 n/a "Psalm" (Live) 8:49
6. December 9, 1964 90244‒4 "Resolution" (Alternate take) 7:25
7. December 9, 1964 90244‒6 "Resolution" (Breakdown) 2:13
8. December 10, 1964 90246‒1 "Acknowledgement" (Alternate take) 9:09
9. December 10, 1964 90246‒2 "Acknowledgement" (Alternate take) 9:22

The Complete Masters

Disc one
  1. "Acknowledgement" – 7:42
  2. "Resolution" – 7:20
  3. "Pursuance" – 10:42
  4. "Psalm" – 7:07
  5. "Pursuance" (Original Mono Reference Master) – 10:40
  6. "Psalm" (Original Mono Reference Master) – 7:02
Disc two
  1. "Acknowledgement" (Vocal Overdub 2) – 1:59
  2. "Acknowledgement" (Vocal Overdub 3) – 2:06
  3. "Resolution" (Take 4/Alternate) – 7:25
  4. "Resolution" (Take 6/Breakdown) – 2:15
  5. "Psalm" (Undubbed Version) – 7:01
  6. "Acknowledgement" (Take 1/Alternate) – 9:23
  7. "Acknowledgement" (Take 2/Alternate) – 9:47
  8. "Acknowledgement" (Take 3/Breakdown with Studio Dialogue) – 1:26
  9. "Acknowledgement" (Take 4/Alternate) – 9:04
  10. "Acknowledgement" (Take 5/False Start) – 0:34
  11. "Acknowledgement" (Take 6/Alternate) – 12:33
Disc 3 – Live in Juan-les-Pins, France/1965
  1. Introduction by Andre Francis and John Coltrane – 1:14
  2. "Acknowledgement" – 6:10
  3. "Resolution" – 11:36
  4. "Pursuance" – 21:30
  5. "Psalm" – 8:47

Personnel

Close-up, worms eye-view of McCoy Tyner at a piano, backlit
McCoy Tyner played piano throughout both sessions for A Love Supreme
The John Coltrane Quartet
Additional musicians
  • Art Davis – double bass on alternate takes of "Acknowledgement"
  • Archie Shepp – tenor saxophone on alternate takes of "Acknowledgement"
Production
Compact Disc reissue
  • Joe Alper – photography
  • Jason Claiborne – graphics
  • Hollis King – art direction
  • Erick Labson – digital remastering
  • Lee Tanner – photography
Deluxe edition
  • Michael Cuscuna – liner notes, production, and remastering
  • Ken Druker – production
  • Esmond Edwards – photography
  • Ashley Kahn – liner notes and production
  • Peter Keepnews – notes editing
  • Hollis King – art direction
  • Bryan Koniarz – production
  • Edward O'Dowd – design
  • Mark Smith – production assistance
  • Sherniece Smith – art coordination and production
  • Chuck Stewart – photography
SACD
  • Bill Levenson – reissue supervisor
  • Cameron Mizell – production coordination
  • Kevin Reeves – mastering
  • Ron Warwell – design
  • Isabelle Wong – package design

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ A Love Supreme from Verve Music Group
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kahn 2002
  4. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. ↑ Porter, 231–249. (citation for entire paragraph)
  6. ↑ Porter, 244. (citation for both Coltrane and Porter's quotes)
  7. ↑ Porter, 246–247.
  8. ↑ Porter, 248.
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ D.W. (November 2, 2004). "Review: A Love Supreme". Rolling Stone Album Guide: 182–185.
  14. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Channel4 - 100 Greatest Albums
  24. ↑ Top Albums of All-time list
  25. ↑ Q magazine (4/99, p.129) - Included in Q's list of "The Best Jazz Albums of All Time."
  26. ↑ Vibe magazine (12/99, p.160) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century.
  27. ↑ NME magazine (10/2/93, p.29) - Ranked #36 in NME's list of the `Greatest Albums Of All Time.'
  28. ↑ Porter, 232.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Staff. RS 500: 47) A Love Supreme. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-10-05.
  32. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. ↑ Jazz/Jerry Jazz Musician/Saxophonist Joshua Redman discusses John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" on Jerry Jazz Musician
  34. ↑ Kahn, xxii.
  35. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. ↑ Thornton, Anthony: 'Neil Hannon's Record Collection', Q #146, November 1998, p67
  37. ↑ Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  38. ↑ Porter, 249.
  39. ↑ A Love Supreme - Wynton Marsalis official web site
  40. ↑ allmusic ((( Octet Plays Trane > Overview )))
  41. ↑ allmusic ((( Rude System > Overview )))
  42. ↑ allmusic ((( Big Band Trane > Overview )))
  43. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

References

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