John Coltrane
Meditations

★★★★½

The album which many consider the true religious and spiritual successor of A Love Supreme. And for the most part I really agree with that. This sextet made up of Coltrane's original quartet along with Pharaoh Sanders and Rashied Ali shows Coltrane at a pivotal point in his career. His shift to absolute freedom and method of testing his own instrument's will, is quite evident here. This would be the last time Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones would be recorded with him as well. 

The first track, "The Father and The Son and The Holy Ghost" is an absolute fire starter; right as it begins it gives this alien and distant feeling. Only to transform into an unstoppable force of energy, and each of the players are a cog in that disruptive machine. From that point on, on songs like "Compassion" and "Love", the band cools off. Trying to serenade and woo the listener with its dark magic and unholy worship. God I love that bass solo on "Love" too. 

"Consequences" is the reboot to a hurricane; it comes back hard. The drumming really pushes it to the next level as you can sense Coltrane pushing every ounce of will out of him and into the music. The last track takes a rewind of what came before it a year earlier. On "Serenity" Coltrane channels the same spirituality and love for God that is obviously present on A Love Supreme. 

I know Coltrane recorded some of this same material but with his OG quartet, I'd be interested in hearing that too. But this is a lot to take in and I'm on my fourth or fifth listen. Every time there's something new that takes you off guard. 

Favorite Song:  The Father and The Son and The Holy Ghost

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