Where to start with Alice Coltrane?

[GODOT]

Been meaning to check the woman out for a while as have heard nothing but glowing reports, but never actually heard the music. What's considered the jewel in her crown like? And what does she actually sound like?

All help massively appreciated.

[dave quam]

A Monastic Trio, Ptah, the El Daoud, Journey in Satchidananda, universal consciousness, and world galaxy are my favorites (with journey being #1)

[grisha]

i really like Transfiguration, but it's actually the only one i heard. i have the lp. there is a lot of organ on that one.

[jpeatt]

A Monastic Trio, Ptah, the El Daoud, Journey in Satchidananda, universal consciousness, and world galaxy are my favorites (with journey being #1)

Apart from 'World Galaxy', those are the only ones I've heard, but they're all really good. Ptah, the El Daoud is my favourite.

[Dan Warburton]

Most of her stuff is back out on mid to low price Impulse! reissue, so you should be able to find the ones mentioned above. I rather like Huntingdon Ashram Monastery, but I'm not sure if that's been reissued, or if it has, if it's still in print. Anyone know if it's lurking on a blog somewhere? My old Memorex cassette of it must be approaching Basinski sound quality now

[jpeatt]

And what does she actually sound like?

All help massively appreciated.

I'm probably not the best source for a description here, as I'm not really familiar with Jazz to any great extent, but I'd say Alice Coltrane's stuff is similar to some of John Coltrane's more mellow mid- late 60's work, but without the driving force of the solo saxophone guiding it. I don't mean that in any kind of negative way - in fact I personally prefer it, and as I said, that's a fairly unknowledgable take on it. There are others here who can give you a more apt, rounded description.

[faster]

I recommend starting with several big bong rips, then moving on to Journey to Satchidananda...

[7/4]

Journey in Satchidananda, Illuminations...

[_duif]

I sincerely like the 10 minutes of undiluted cheese that is "Prema", on "Transfiguration". soaring violins and all.

[palfoot]

without no doubt, universal consciousness, created after her 'spiritual journeys' with swamis.
her harp playing is just gorgeous, imho this is where she's really found her own voice.

[jon abbey]

I vote for Ptah, the El Daoud, but I'm not a big fan of most of the others.

I was lucky enough to see her live once (since she virtually never played), in an interesting program with her, Ravi Shankar, her son (Ravi Coltrane), and Shankar's daughter in different combos. she and her son did a version of Equinox that sounded like Ravi was channelling his dad, pretty incredible (possibly my favorite Coltrane track also, so a very memorable night all around).

[Dan Warburton]

I vote for Ptah, the El Daoud, but I'm not a big fan of most of the others.

I was lucky enough to see her live once (since she virtually never played), in an interesting program with her, Ravi Shankar, her son (Ravi Coltrane), and Shankar's daughter

who, Norah Jones?!

[jon abbey]

Anoushka, his 'sitar disciple'. she was great, better than he was (to my thoroughly untrained ears, of course).

[Dohol]

Anoushka, his 'sitar disciple'. she was great, better than he was (to my thoroughly untrained ears, of course).

Hmmm....I'm not a big fan of Ravi, but I would hesitate to make that comparison.


She is quite good though.

[Dohol]

I recommend starting with several big bong rips, then moving on to Journey to Satchidananda...

Several big bong hit's is probably the only way I can enjoy Alice...


I guess I'm in the small minority here..

[7/4]

Anoushka, his 'sitar disciple'. she was great, better than he was (to my thoroughly untrained ears, of course).

Hmmm....I'm not a big fan of Ravi, but I would hesitate to make that comparison.


She is quite good though.

Never was too excited about either father or daughter Shankar.

[jon abbey]

Hmmm....I'm not a big fan of Ravi, but I would hesitate to make that comparison.

She is quite good though.

well, you weren't there that night, were you?

[Dohol]

Hmmm....I'm not a big fan of Ravi, but I would hesitate to make that comparison.

She is quite good though.

well, you weren't there that night, were you?

Touche..

[washline]

Journey is the one to get here. I also like Transfiguration quite a bit. Ones to avoid are Eternity and Transcendence.

[washline]

Most of her stuff is back out on mid to low price Impulse! reissue, so you should be able to find the ones mentioned above. I rather like Huntingdon Ashram Monastery, but I'm not sure if that's been reissued, or if it has, if it's still in print. Anyone know if it's lurking on a blog somewhere? My old Memorex cassette of it must be approaching Basinski sound quality now

Coming right up, Danny-boy:

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