What Up February Day 14 Love is in the Air

Valentine’s Day is usually thought of in terms of horizontal love…person-to-person. What about “vertical” love? Loving God? Perhaps John Coltrane’s most well-known piece is “A Love Supreme.” Here are some of the liner notes on his approximately 35-minute LP:

During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD.

This album is a humble offering to Him. An attempt to say "THANK YOU GOD" through our work, even as we do in our hearts and with our tongues. May He help and strengthen all men in every good endeavor.

The music herein is presented in four parts. The first entitled "Acknowledgment", the second, "Resolution", the third, "Pursuance", and the fourth and last part is a musical narration of the theme, "A Love Supreme" which is written in the context: it is entitled "Psalm".

Very little has survived of live recordings of John Coltrane, so this clip is short and not of particularly good quality. But it is the genuine article.



Here is Wynton’s brother Branford Marsalis and his quintet performing the first of the four movements, “Acknowledgement”: