Let me tell you that the John Coltrane Festival has been going on for several years now and this my first time at the event. Hell yes I’m excited!!! A festival dedicated to one of the true masters and innovative heroes of jazz music, John Coltrane, has to be one of the most exciting events to attend anywhere. As soon as I walked in the door of the El Rey Theater, I was greeted by a number of my friends and jazz colleagues. There is an ever present buzz in inside the theater. The music filling the reception air is that of McCoy Tyner, long time musical compadre of Trane and musical genius himself as well as that of Alice Coltrane, John’s most talented wife. I know it well because it is one of my absolute most favorite pieces of music. It is from an album done by McCoy called “Extensions” on Blue Note Records and it is one extraordinarily beautiful piece of music. Alice plays the harp and along with McCoy, Gary Bartz, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter and Elvin Jones, heaven on earth is created.
Tonight Alice, Ravi, Oranyan and the rest of the Coltrane family as well as many other special guest dedicate a night of music and entertainment to the spirit, being, evolution and power that was John Coltrane. At $100 per ticket, this venue is sold out. This event benefits the John Coltrane Scholarship Foundation and keeping jazz alive is it’s motto. This has to be the quint essential jazz event of the year and I am honored to attend anything that is a tribute to such a creative inspiration for the world and for jazz music.
On the bill for tonight are the winners of the 2004 John Coltrane Scholarship awards, Savion Glover, the Branford Marsalis Quartet, Alice, Ravi and Oranyan Coltrane. My main man Mr. Mark Maxwell, the humble facilitator of the sounds of the creator, from radio station KPFK 90.7 FM was the master of ceremonies for the evening. I knew that we were in good hands and in store for an incredible night of music. Perusing through the El Rey Theater were musicians, actors, straight ahead jazz purist, jazz writers and a number of members of the church of John Coltrane headed by Alice herself. The stage was lit in an array of beautiful colors. Towards the back of the stage, suspended from ceiling was a huge framed portrait of John Coltrane, the focal epicenter of the evening.
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