John Coltrane - Interstellar Space
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Free Music Notes for Interstellar Space
Free Music Review: Not for the feint of heart or mind
Hit: 5 Stars
This is Trane's last recorded studio album, coming a week after the "Stellar Regions" sessions, and he had a lot to get in. One assumes the man was conscious of his impending death, which might explain the absence of Pharoah Sanders and the excessive and inspired soloing throughout. The album is a dual-solo from beginning to end, from Coltrane and Ali. Don't look here for anything beyond that- there is no structure, nor does one imagine that 'Trane had much of a plan before they turned on the mikes beside blowing them to pieces. On "Jupiter", Coltrane reaptedly uses a strange little technique to create a sound like a futuristic machine functioning, or laser fire, or *something* very strange that he'd never touched upon before that gave me the ego-annihilating willies. If this sounds like your thing, or you want a good representation of late-late Coltrane (Ali sounds better here than he ever has and the loss of the rest of the quartet doesn't seem to harm the music) Interstellar Space would be a good album for you.Free Music Review: Difficult, Energetic Free Jazz
Hit: 5 Stars
If you are interested in late Coltrane, this is the place to start. Essentially, the album consists of Coltrane going nuts on his saxophone for an hour accompanied by Rashid Ali on drums.
Trane takes simple motives and builds them up to brilliant heights. The album is endlessly listenable, because there are many layers of structure to the improvisations.
Sometimes Trane seems to wander without a tonal centre; other times he clearly uses a tonal centre, sometimes playing things that recall his earlier playing with the "Classic Quartet".
Ali's drumming is fine. It sort of melts into the background, which is just the way it should be. He moves smoothly with Trane's changes in tempo and dynamics. He takes a few relatively short solos.
This album is essential listening for people interested in late Coltrane, free jazz, and modern music in general.
Free Music Review: Wow
Hit: 5 Stars
In his final years, Coltrane became heavily influenced by the music of the jazz avant-garde. A few short months before his death, Coltrane recorded the work which was to become the album Interstellar Space. Interstellar Space is not for the beginner jazz listener. Admittedly, the first time I listened to it, I wasn't sure what to make of it. But after listening to it several times, I am completely amazed at how powerful it is. I still cannot believe Coltrane's intense and powerful sax playing and Rashied Ali's frenetic and thunderous drumming, especially on the first track Mars. I am literally exhausted after hearing this album.
If you're looking for something challenging to listen to and not just the usual jazz, then this album's for you.
Free Music Review: Absolutely Fantastic!
Hit: 5 Stars
This album is a masterpiece. The remaster is absolutely worth the extra money even if you own the older version. It has now been restored completely and Coltrane and Ali sound magnificent. Coltrane's horn sound has lost that hard digital edge and now sounds very warm and fat. His playing is passionate, inventive, technically astounding and most of all, deeply moving. Rashied Ali is the right man to complement Coltrane on his flights rather than the more traditional Jones who locked Coltrane into conventional rhythmic patterns. All of the late Coltrane is worth investigating if you like this, especially Meditations and Live at the Village Vanguard Again.Free Music Review: indeed, the last masterpiece
Hit: 5 Stars
A lot of people for some reason hear turmoil in this recording but I hear peace, even when the music seems to some folks to be very dissonant. FACT: most folk music is dissonant, if you broaden your horizens to include the entire planet.
But dissonance is just a means to heat the music so it generates light and that is useful to lift the music into a Spiritual realm and that is why Trane's music is important to me.
It may take you some time, but when you finally reach this music, you will hear the joy.
If this music doesn't cause you to question life and ponder its mysteries, do not blame Mr John Coltrane or Mr. Rashied Ali.