Saxophone visionary John Coltrane was born 100 years ago this month. There’s pretty much a Coltrane album for anyone who likes jazz, from his early Prestige sides as a leader and as a member of the first great Miles Davis Quintet, to the glorious scorched-earth recordings he made toward the end of his career, like “Ascension” and “Interstellar Space.”
I love all the sonic facets of this fearless explorer, from his sideman days to “Giant Steps,” “Africa/Brass to “Sun Ship.” And my copy of “A Love Supreme,” the Coltrane album I’ve lived with happily since I was 16, is always within reach. John Coltrane’s music is endlessly inventive, powerful and mesmerizing. Itap remarkable to consider the ground he covered on tenor and soprano sax before his passing in 1967 at 40 years old.
Coltrane did play in Colorado as a leader at least once, at the Melody Lounge, 1011 23rd Street in Denver circa 1960. I would have loved to have been there, and I’d very much like to know more about the Melody Lounge. Drop me a line if you ever visited.
A century after his birth, there’s much to celebrate locally, including a lovely new collaborative album from saxophonist Branford Marsalis, who’s no stranger to Coltrane’s recorded legacy, and Denver’s own multiple-Grammy Award winning vocalist Dianne Reeves. “Dedicated To You” (Blue Note, out Sept. 18) recreates the entirety of the 1963 recording “John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.” How fearless to attempt to take on that iconic release, and how glorious that the project is such a success.
Marsalis sensitively complements the ever-graceful Reeves perfectly throughout. And since the runtime of the original album is brief by today’s standards, Marsalis and his quartet add several instrumental covers of lesser-known Coltrane compositions, including “Central Park West” and “26-2.”
In a world overflowing with tribute albums, “Dedicated To You” stands out.
For Coltrane’s birthday on Sept. 23, saxophonist Taylor Clay and his quartet honor the master at Denver’s Nocturne. Denver performers supporting Clay include pianist Jack Dunlevie, bassist Eirik Haugbro and Braxton Kahn on drums. Also, that evening at Dazzle, the gifted local educator-tenor saxophonist Keith Oxman pays tribute with his quartet featuring Dave Hanson, Mark Simon and Harold Summey channeling pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones.
And to wrap up a month of Coltrane tributes, the great man’s son Ravi Coltrane brings his quartet to the Newman Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 30. The younger Coltrane is an expressive saxophonist who can perform with the intensity of his father, yet he’s cultivated his own style, too. Get tickets at newmancenterpresents.com.
Also in September: siblings Pascal (piano) and Remy (saxophone) Le Boeuf perform at The Newman Center Sept. 18… the Denver Jazz Festival runs Sept. 18-20 at Studio Loft at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, with music from The Gabriel Mervine All Star Jazz Band, Eyal Vilner Swing Band and more…Dotsero plays The Soiled Dove live at Choppers on Sept. 5…Monday Night Jazz with Vlad Girshevich takes place Sept. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at Herb’s…Greg Gisbert and Friends pay tribute to Miles Davis and Coltrane at Dazzle on Sept. 16…guitarist Mike Stern plays there Sept. 17-19.
Bret Saunders is a freelance writer and radio DJ.
