Coltrane: The Story of a Sound

Wonderful knowledgeable writing. The day I finished it I immediately started again at page one. A lot to enjoy, especially if you are a musician

This book is a very interesting read, analysing the path that led Coltrane to his particular and distinctive sound/tone but also how it influenced the hundreds if not thousands of sax player that keep trying to copy him. An enjoyable book for people who wish to look deeper into music and not stay on the surface.

Reading all this back-and-forth, the puffs and pans, about this fascinating book, I get the impression that everybody has missed the point. This is indeed the story of a sound---the incredible sound that John Coltrane evolved and what he could do with it---and, as a retired musician who worked in the various areas of music (symphonic, chamber music, opera, ballet, shows and---yes, jazz), I enjoyed it thoroughly. I have in my library this one, "Coltrane on Coltrane", and a third volume---"The John Coltrane Companion", which was sent to me as a gift---and I consider all the necessary gaps filled to my satisfaction. As to the "pans", I'm reminded of a fellow who had been the jazz critic of the New York Times many years ago, a guy with one glaring fault---he had his head in the sand, but he wasn't looking for water. He considered Dixieland the only true jazz, and for him nothing else existed; he would go to this concert and that, and no matter how great the performance or the performers he would put it down unmercifully BECAUSE IT WASN'T DIXIELAND! Anyhoo, with these three great reads to complement my own experiences with jazz---and some of the guys who played it and all who shared it with me---I'm as happy as a clam in the key of B-flat. Thank you.

Great product

A well researched, yet readable book, that covers the musical journey of John Coltrane throughout his life and then the influence his journey and musical evolution had on various musicians, both contemporary and those who followed.