It’s been over 60 years since Coltrane’s profound recording of “Alabama,” and in recent years I have made some progress toward understanding it. As you’ll see in today’s essay and in Parts 2 and 3, I believe that I have “cracked the code” of this piece. I have not fully deciphered it, but I can now show how this piece is connected with the words of Dr. King.
Lewis, Thank you for opening up yet an added view on Coltrane’s playing. It’s intriguing and it seems that you are on to something credible. Although, regarding ”Acknowledgement” to me the introduction comes through as a mere fanfare. Which by the way might be another topic of investigation, to account for all the different fanfares he was fond of using.
Also, your comments about Amiri Baraka is gratifying. To me he was a prominent American poet that got my attention through his notes in the ”Coltrane live at Birdland” album (which includes Alabama). I managed to find a way to get his then new book ”The Dead Lecturer” shipped to Sweden which wasn’t an easy feat! By the end of his life I even had contact with him on email. I’d like to mention, which you probably know, that in 1979 he published a poem all devoted to Coltrane called AM/TRAK, that accounts for most of Tranes carrer. Worth reading.
Hello Bertil, Thank you for your comments. Please read my words closely--I am not talking about the very beginning of Acknowledgement which I too call a fanfare. I said the solo, and I said starting at 1:02. As for Baraka, yes, the quotes I gave are from the Birdland LP, and I know his writings. In fact, I taught for 31 years at the Rutgers campus in Newark, New Jersey, where Basraka lived and we got to know each other--I was at his house, he visited my classes 4 times to speak with my graduate students, etc. He was a brilliant and very witty person! THANK YOU BERTIL
Great info about Baraka. Thanks Lewis. Yes, I have been following him from afar as best possible. He was controversial but his poetry and plays were superb. As much so that I tried to convince the Swedish Academy to give him the Nobel Prize. That’s why I was in contact with him and he liked the idea. In real life however it is not the way they operate and obviously they had others in mind.
Sorry for the mistake re. Acknowledgement. I see what you mean now and totally agree.
I just purchased the ArtistOwned Coltrane audio doc but when I tried to download it I was taken to Podbean, which then shut off. I can’t find any way to contact ArtistOwned via email. Do you have any contact information for them? Thanks.
Hello Lewis. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for the work you've done over these many years. Particularly in regards to Coltrane. Your book is in my opinion one of the best biographies written about any musician. Our mutual friend Don Manning is the one who first introduced me to it. And I've been grateful for that ever since. Take care and have a great day.
Lewis, Thank you for opening up yet an added view on Coltrane’s playing. It’s intriguing and it seems that you are on to something credible. Although, regarding ”Acknowledgement” to me the introduction comes through as a mere fanfare. Which by the way might be another topic of investigation, to account for all the different fanfares he was fond of using.
Also, your comments about Amiri Baraka is gratifying. To me he was a prominent American poet that got my attention through his notes in the ”Coltrane live at Birdland” album (which includes Alabama). I managed to find a way to get his then new book ”The Dead Lecturer” shipped to Sweden which wasn’t an easy feat! By the end of his life I even had contact with him on email. I’d like to mention, which you probably know, that in 1979 he published a poem all devoted to Coltrane called AM/TRAK, that accounts for most of Tranes carrer. Worth reading.
Hello Bertil, Thank you for your comments. Please read my words closely--I am not talking about the very beginning of Acknowledgement which I too call a fanfare. I said the solo, and I said starting at 1:02. As for Baraka, yes, the quotes I gave are from the Birdland LP, and I know his writings. In fact, I taught for 31 years at the Rutgers campus in Newark, New Jersey, where Basraka lived and we got to know each other--I was at his house, he visited my classes 4 times to speak with my graduate students, etc. He was a brilliant and very witty person! THANK YOU BERTIL
Great info about Baraka. Thanks Lewis. Yes, I have been following him from afar as best possible. He was controversial but his poetry and plays were superb. As much so that I tried to convince the Swedish Academy to give him the Nobel Prize. That’s why I was in contact with him and he liked the idea. In real life however it is not the way they operate and obviously they had others in mind.
Sorry for the mistake re. Acknowledgement. I see what you mean now and totally agree.
Thanks, Bertil
Wow--that is great that you tried to have the Academy consider him for the Nobel Prize! THANK YOU BERTIL
Hi Lewis,
I just purchased the ArtistOwned Coltrane audio doc but when I tried to download it I was taken to Podbean, which then shut off. I can’t find any way to contact ArtistOwned via email. Do you have any contact information for them? Thanks.
I do have the contact info. I'll send it to you by email. Also, I've removed the link to purchase it. THANKS for letting me know JIM
Hello Lewis. I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for the work you've done over these many years. Particularly in regards to Coltrane. Your book is in my opinion one of the best biographies written about any musician. Our mutual friend Don Manning is the one who first introduced me to it. And I've been grateful for that ever since. Take care and have a great day.
Thanks much Jay for these kind words!
Thank you Lewis.