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A Love Supreme

Rate It! Avg: 5.0 (112 ratings)
A Love Supreme album cover
01
A Love Supreme Part I: Acknowledgement
Artist: The John Coltrane Quartet
7:43
02
A Love Supreme Part II - Resolution
Artist: The John Coltrane Quartet
7:18
03
A Love Supreme, Part III: Pursuance
Artist: The John Coltrane Quartet
10:43
04
A Love Supreme, Part IV-Psalm
Artist: The John Coltrane Quartet
7:03
Album Information
EDITOR'S PICK

Total Tracks: 4   Total Length: 32:47

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eMusic Review 0

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Britt Robson

eMusic Contributor

Britt Robson has written about jazz for Jazz Times, downbeat, the Washington Post and many other publications over the past 30 years. He currently writes regula...more »

11.23.10
A generous, non-judgmental soul check
2003 | Label: IMPULSE!

A Love Supreme, quite simply, is the sound of beauty. Rarely, if ever, has an artist been able to communicate the warmth and gratitude in his spiritual essence as directly and palpably as Coltrane does here, in a manner that is neither maudlin nor mystical. The impact is the opposite of spellbinding: It fosters self-reflection — a generous, non-judgmental soul check.

Both of Coltrane's parents were musicians. Both of his grandfathers were Methodist ministers. As he writes in the liner notes, he received a spiritual awakening in 1957 (at the age of 31), only to lapse into drug abuse and other bad habits. But by December 1964, he was prepared to celebrate his recommitment with this four-song, 33-minute suite, entering that rarefied zone where simplicity begets profundity.

The grandiosity of the opening gong that introduces "Acknowledgement," and Coltrane's first-ever chant on record later in the track (repeating the phrase, "a love supreme") indicates he knew this was a breakthrough. But his first tenor sax of the disc, coming after Jimmy Garrison's bass vamp sets the theme, is anchored in the blues, with his trademark clarity of tone a mixture of assertive faith and willing supplication, a mutual sense of honor and duty.… read more »

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A time Warp

Jesusjazz1

This man was truly ahead of his time; a true legend. Great album.

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One of the greatest musical statements ever

banomassa

A Love Supreme is a masterpiece in ever definition of the word. It is well, written, well executed, and timeless. It sounds as fresh now as it ever has, but then again it is an example of divine expression in my book. The bar can't get any higher, John and this band are on a different level. Elvin Jones' drumming here is astonishingly excellent. This is an album ever music lover if not ever person should own.

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