John Coltrane was a key figure in jazz, a pioneer in world music, and an intensely emotional force whose following continues to grow. This new biography, the first by a professional jazz scholar and performer, presents a huge amount of never-before-published material, including interviews with Coltrane, photos, genealogical documents, and innovative musical analysis that offers a fresh view of Coltrane's genius. Compiled from scratch with the assistance of dozens of Coltrane's colleagues, friends, and family, John Coltrane: His Life and Music corrects numerous errors from previous biographies. The significant people in Coltrane's life were reinterviewed, yielding new insights; some were interviewed for the first time ever. The musical analysis, which is accessible to the nonspecialist, makes its own revelations--for example, that some of Coltrane's well-known pieces are based on previously unrecognized sources. The Appendix is the most detailed chronology of Coltrane's performing career ever compiled, listing scores of previously unknown performances from the 1940s and early 1950s. Coltrane has become a musical inspiration for thousands of fans and musicians and a personal inspiration to as many more. For all of these, Porter's book will become the definitive resource--a reliable guide to the events of Coltrane's life and an insightful look into his musical practices. ". . . well researched, musically knowledgeable, and enormously interesting to read. Porter is a jazz scholar with deep knowledge of the tradition he is studying, both conceptually and technically." --Richard Crawford, University of Michigan "Lewis Porter is a meticulous person with love and respect for Afro-American classical music. I applaud this definitive study of my friend John Coltrane's life adn achievements." --Jimmy Heath, jazz saxophonist, composer, educator Lewis Porter is Associate Professor of Music, Rutgers University in Newark. A leading jazz scholar, he is the author of Jazz Readings from a Century of Change and coauthor of Jazz: From Its Origins to the Present. He was a project consultant on The Complete Atlantic Recordings of John Coltrane, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Historical Reissue, and an editor and assisting author of the definitive Coltrane discography by Y. Fujioka.
Just what I was looking for I have always been so impressed with John Coltrane's music, but also with his impact on so many different musicians. This book gave a glimpse into the drive he had toward his music. And the personality that he has that was part of what made his music affect so many. The musical terms were over my head, but the awareness of how crafted his music is came through.
CMCapo "BassMan" No need to search for the right biography on John Coltrane here it is. I usually check out a number of library books to review the best to purchase. This is the best. Lewis Porter walks you in "Giant Steps" through John Coltrane's family history, childhood, musical background including song sheets, photo's and much more. Most of all you learn about the kind humble genius that he was as a truly unique one of kind musician.
THE Coltrane Biography An excellent book that includes thorough analysis and scores from Trane's solos (imagine that, a book about a musician that actually focuses on the guy's music). Chasin' the Trane was full of trite, silly speculation in some places and clearly was not written by someone with a working knowledge of music. THIS book deals with many facts about Trane's music. Porter carefully breaks down Coltrane's "methodology" and shows how, even though the aesthetic of the music changed drastically after 1965, he was actually adhering to the pentatonic scales in thirds approach (albeit without steady rhythm and harmonic anchors). Include many transcripts of pieces ranging from Fifth House (early) to Venus (late). If you are a musician who wants a serious study of Coltrane then THIS is the book to buy.
What a Yawner It's unfortunate for John Coltrane that such a poor writer decided to take up the pen to sketch out his life. The writing of Lewis Porter is incredibly stilted, weak, and generally poor. There is absolutely no style to his treatment and the detailing of Coltrane's life is thin at best. While the book appears to have the guise of a linear arc, it meanders, it flails, it fails.
One walks away wondering who John Coltrane was. The cursory attention given to the personal details of his life, especially his later life, is unforgivable. Yeah, he liked sweets, so what? We are given hardly any personal details of his life in the 60's when his fame was at its height. At one point Porter casually mentions a Sheila Coltrane, who apparently was an illegitimate child of John's, and then drops it. I mean, really? He couldn't do a little more research and fill the reader in? Towards the end of his narrative Porter scores the ultimate cheap trick and gives the reader a chapter containing only quotes by other people about Coltrane--I mean who does this? I'll tell you who--A lazy biographer who's looking for filler, and can't be bothered to do what legitimate biographers do and weave the quotes into the text.
The real meat of the book is in the analysis of the music. Porter devotes countless pages to breaking down minute details of Coltrane's music, producing sheet music, charts, and yawns...
I'm sure Porter's scrutiny of the music will appeal to some serious music fans, but don't buy this book if you are interested in learning alot about John Coltrane.
The details say 448 pages, but the actual text is only 300 pages with the rest devoted to bibliography, notes, a timeline of his shows (???), and an index.
Coltrane: His Music To fully appreciate this book the reader should certainly be able to read music. There are a multitude of scores that the reader should understand to be able to get the most out of this book. However even if you can't read music (As I can't) there is a lot to interest one in this book. Coltrane came from the Rocky Mount Section of NC. It seems ike he had an interesting, stable Family Life, though the Father does not seemed to have lived with him. Moved to Philly after High School, where he did Graduate. He was in the Service in the Mid 40s, and surprisingly was in an integrated Navy Band. I thought the services were segregated at that time. There are also details of his two marriages. If you can read music or at least understand scoring this book is highly recommended. If you are like me you will still probably enjoy it.
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