Jazz star follows example set by his pioneering parents

Ravi Coltrane wonders if his parents’ music jazz The great John and Alice Coltrane, if released, would resonate deeply streaming service today.

“When it comes to this kind of music, the material can be more challenging because it really has to be listened to over and over again. Then the music opens up like a bunch of flowers, it blooms, and then you connect with it,” he told National.

“It’s probably more challenging for artists now because music is becoming more and more one-off and people aren’t putting their time into their work, and because of that, they may not feel like it’s moving them.”

Still, the compositions of Coltrane’s seminal saxophone father and ethereal pianist mother continue to challenge and captivate artists and listeners alike—not to mention helping shape the trajectory of popular music genres like soul and R&B.

Coltrane, 57, will NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center Thursday.

Don’t expect a faithful rendition, however. Backed by his quartet, the pieces will be filtered through his own feelings as a Grammy-nominated recording artist and producer.

“There’s a lot going on in the music between John and Alice in terms of the musical composition and the spirit they put into it. There’s a lot of room and it allows the rest of us to explore it in our own way,” he said.

“I’m not trying to emulate them. Instead, I embrace music and express it in my own way.”

This approach makes every show as inspiring for Coltrane as his audience.

“I don’t think tension is a bad word. It’s what happens when two powerful forces collide with each other and you’re trying to find a balance between the two,” he said.

“While my parents’ music has influenced many generations, it has also had a profound impact on my life, and I’m trying to find a way to honor that and do it in a way that represents where I am today. .”

Coltrane was born in New York, the second of three children of John and Alice, and was less than 2 years old when his father died of liver cancer at the age of 40.

Despite his untimely death, John left behind a vast body of work that expanded on the parameters and concepts of jazz music.

“I never had the opportunity to witness John in that regard, but my mother, of course, always told us the kind of guy he was on stage and off stage,” Coltrane said.

“She gave me enough attention that I could follow in some of his footsteps.”

The greatest influence on his creation and personal life was his mother.

A talented pianist and bandleader in her own right, Alice built her career as an early leader of spiritual jazz, a subgenre characterized by experimentalism and transcendental themes.

After releasing more than a dozen albums, Alice moved from secular music to recording devotional songs inspired by Hindu beliefs.

It was with Coltrane’s gentle coaxing that Alice finally returned to jazz after more than two decades and released linear lighta collaborative album produced by her son, released in 2007 three years before her death.

“This remains the most important project I’ve worked on and one of my proudest achievements,” Coltrane said.

“Just working with her and seeing her play so beautifully after such a long time is powerful.

“The music never left her, which shows that she chooses to express herself when she plays. I listen to it every now and then and I still have that great feeling.”

Coltrane said he has followed the example set by his parents throughout his career. This means that every show and recording needs to have an impact on the listener.

“It’s about trying to get the sound and intent in music to touch somewhere between the head and the heart of people,” he said.

“It’s this combination that has moved so many people with the work of John and Alice Coltrane, and I think that will always be the case.”

Ravi Coltrane performed at NYU Abu Dhabi Arts Center on Thursday. Showtime is 7.30pm.Tickets start from Dh52.50 nyuad-artscenter.org.

Updated: October 6, 2022, 8:17 am