A centennial celebration of John Coltrane

Terry Gross of Fresh Air interviews Ravi Coltrane, son of jazz legend John Coltrane, as part of a centennial celebration of his father's birth. The celebration includes concerts, album reissues, and a new book of Coltrane photos edited by Ravi Coltrane himself. Ravi, a highly regarded tenor saxophone player and composer, shares insights into his father's musical genius, his mother Alice Coltrane's spiritual journey, and his own experiences growing up in the shadow of such influential figures.

The Enduring Legacy of John Coltrane

John Coltrane, born 100 years ago on September 23rd, is celebrated as one of the most influential musicians in the history of jazz. He was renowned for his early recordings with Miles Davis, his transcendent ballads, modal music, and spiritual jazz. Coltrane popularized the soprano saxophone with his recording of "My Favorite Things" and pioneered avant-garde free jazz. As critic Francis Davis wrote, Coltrane's music stands for "a disciplined mindset, a desire for spiritual ecstasy, a vision of music as ritual, and of performance as a holy rite." His music has been interpreted as a cry for Black liberation, the soundtrack of a spiritual quest, a backdrop for tripping, or the next evolutionary step for jazz after bebop.