The Coltrane Test

By Charlie Peacock

Courtesy of {Christian Musician}
 

I first heard saxophonist John Coltrane, I mean really heard him, in 1970

on a Miles Davis album titled Someday My Prince Will Come. His playing was

compelling and set apart. It was as if Miles, having exhausted all

possibility of recruiting talent in this galaxy had traveled to another

and returned with Coltrane in tow-on loan from another planet, a planet

whose citizens placed a high premium on imagination, creativity and

technical excellence. Just the kind of planet I wanted to live on.

Coltrane possessed an ability to make creative choices that others either

did not know existed, were afraid to make, or simply could not execute

because they had not prepared for such strange and wonderful

possibilities. He stretched preconceived boundaries and erased limitations

that many thought to be intrinsic to the instrument. In the world of jazz

saxophone, Coltrane narrowed the gap between what a musician could imagine

and what he could actually create. I heard in Coltrane, a call to

greatness.

Late at night, alone in my room, I would light a candle and a little cone

of incense, put Coltrane on the stereo and invite him to transport me to

new worlds of sound and invention. It was, as people often remarked in

those days, a religious experience, and admittedly no small part of my

attraction to Coltrane. I read all I could about him in magazines, books

and liner notes. One writer explained Coltrane's premature death at the

age of forty by postulating that man cannot see God and live. The

inference, even to my young mind, was understood and noted. John Coltrane,

they said, was a very spiritual man, a deeply religious man.

According to scholar, Emmett G. Price, "Coltrane's search for closeness

with God began during the early spring of 1957, when he underwent what he

termed a 'spiritual awakening.' During this time, he turned to God for

help and rededicated himself to God. In this seven-year period (from'57 to

'64), he also merged his religion and his music, fusing them into an

inseparable bond. After years of exploration, devoted study, much

intellectual conversation, and practice, Coltrane emerged with (the

celebrated album) A Love Supreme, which encompassed all his studies and

related his concept of spirituality to the world."

To this day, John Coltrane remains one of the giants of music, a true

innovator, and yes, a man known for loving God. What can we learn from

Coltrane? A lot! Here are some tough questions to ask yourself:

1. Coltrane placed a high premium on imagination, creativity and technical

excellence on his instrument. He erased preconceived limitations and

advanced the art form. Does this characterize you and your music? Are you

becoming so facile as an instrumentalist or vocalist that you are closing

the gap between what can be imagined and what can be created?

2. Coltrane played music within a tradition (jazz) but stretched the

boundaries of that tradition. He was not content to simply copy the work

of others. Are you stretching the boundaries of your tradition and

culture? Are you content to copy the work of others never risking to take

the music to new places?

3. After Coltrane had already achieved considerable fame, he still found

it necessary to ask God for musical help. Regardless of your station in

life, do you turn to God day in and day out for the direction your music

should take? Do you forsake the roar of the marketplace in order to hear

the counsel of God?

4. Coltrane learned to erase the division between his religious life and

his musical life-they became inseparable. He studied the Bible as well as

his scales, and all for the same purpose of honoring God. Are you devoted

to study in the most comprehensive sense, for the grandest purpose of all?

5. Coltrane is known the world over for A Love Supreme, an album "which

encompassed all his studies and related his concept of spirituality to the

world." Does the music you make accomplish this good goal?

Friends, there is so much to learn about a musical life in Christ. Don't

be discouraged if you are not on the same planet as John Coltrane, few

musicians are. Still, have eyes to see and ears to hear. And be inspired.

Set out in the musical life to truthfully answer to the questions I've

listed above and ask God for help along the way. When you are laid to rest

may it be said of you that a Love Supreme drove your every thought and

deed. May it be said that you were great, not to your own selfish

purposes, but to the glory of God. To be spoken of in this way is to be in

the company of such stellar musicians as King David, Bach and Coltrane-not

bad company if you ask me.

(Courtesy of Christian Musician)