John And Alice Coltrane

Coltrane is a name you're likely to have heard, even if you know little to nothing about jazz. More than half a century after his death, saxophonist and composer John Coltrane is hailed as a giant of American cultural history, and one of 20th-century music's greatest visionaries. But he's not the only Coltrane. His wife, Alice, was an accomplished keyboardist and harpist who made revolutionary music in her own right, and whose contribution to John's late output has not always been fully recognised. As soulmates and fellow seekers in sound, John and Alice both transcended cultural and genre boundaries, helping to pioneer avant-garde and spiritual jazz. But following John's premature death in 1967, Alice began her solo career and would take forward their journey of creative and religious expansion. All this week, Kate Molleson is joined by journalist and broadcaster Kevin Le Gendre to dive into the lives and music of these monumental figures, and explore their contributions to the jazz world and beyond.

Today, Kate and Kevin explore the first stages in John's career - and the little steps that lead him towards his early triumph, Giant Steps. Along the way, he's offered a golden opportunity, to play with Miles Davis. But will he make the most of it?

Music featured:

Straight Street (from Coltrane)

Blue Train (from Blue Train)

Miles Davis/John Coltrane: So What (from Kind of Blue)

Giant Steps (from Giant Steps)

Syeeda's Song Flute (from Giant Steps)

Naima (from Giant Steps)

Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre discuss the turning points in John's early career.

Kate Molleson is joined by Kevin Le Gendre to explore the lives and music of revolutionary jazz power couple John and Alice Coltrane. Today - John's big break is in jeopardy.

Coltrane is a name you're likely to have heard, even if you know little to nothing about jazz. More than half a century after his death, saxophonist and composer John Coltrane is hailed as a giant of American cultural history, and one of 20th-century music's greatest visionaries. But he's not the only Coltrane. His wife, Alice, was an accomplished keyboardist and harpist who made revolutionary music in her own right, and whose contribution to John's late output has not always been fully recognised. As soulmates and fellow seekers in sound, John and Alice both transcended cultural and genre boundaries, helping to pioneer avant-garde and spiritual jazz. But following John's premature death in 1967, Alice began her solo career and would take forward their journey of creative and religious expansion. All this week, Kate Molleson is joined by journalist and broadcaster Kevin Le Gendre to dive into the lives and music of these monumental figures, and explore their contributions to the jazz world and beyond.

Today, John finds overnight success with his take on My Favorite Things. But fame and money aren't enough – they don't complete his quest for the perfect band, and the perfect sound...

Music featured:

Rodgers/Hart: It's Easy to Remember (from Ballads)

Up ‘Gainst the Wall (from Impressions)

Rodgers/Hammerstein: My Favorite Things (from My Favorite Things)

Blues Minor (from Africa/Brass)

India (from Impressions)

Alabama (from Live at Birdland 1963)

Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre follow John's continuing quest for the perfect sound.

Kate Molleson is joined by Kevin Le Gendre to explore the lives and music of revolutionary jazz power-couple John and Alice Coltrane. Today - John's search for the perfect sound.

Coltrane is a name that you're likely to have heard, even if you know little to nothing about jazz. More than half a century after his death, saxophonist and composer John Coltrane is hailed as a giant of American cultural history, and one of 20th-century music's greatest visionaries. But he's not the only Coltrane. His wife, Alice, was an accomplished keyboardist and harpist who made revolutionary music in her own right, and whose contribution to John's late output has not always been fully recognised. As soulmates and fellow seekers in sound, John and Alice both transcended cultural and genre boundaries, helping to pioneer avant-garde and spiritual jazz. But following John's premature death in 1967, Alice began her solo career and would take forward their journey of creative and religious expansion. All this week, Kate Molleson is joined by journalist and broadcaster Kevin Le Gendre to dive into the lives and music of these monumental figures, and explore their contributions to the jazz world and beyond.

Today, our composers meet at last. Kevin and Kate discuss the significance of John and Alice's family home, where John composed his masterwork A Love Supreme, and the music that they made together in his final years.

Music featured:

Bessie's Blues (from Crescent)

Terry Gibbs: Sherry Bossa Nova (from Plays Terry Gibbs feat. Alice McLeod)

Ogunde (from Expression)

A Love Supreme, Pts 1 and 2 (from A Love Supreme)

Expression (from Expression)

Dear Lord (from Transition)

Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre explore John and Alice's powerful partnership.

Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre explore the lives and music of revolutionary jazz power couple John and Alice Coltrane. Today - their brilliant yet short-lived partnership.

Coltrane is a name that you're likely to have heard, even if you know little to nothing about jazz. More than half a century after his death, saxophonist and composer John Coltrane is hailed as a giant of American cultural history, and one of 20th-century music's greatest visionaries. But he's not the only Coltrane. His wife, Alice, was an accomplished keyboardist and harpist who made revolutionary music in her own right, and whose contribution to John's late output has not always been fully recognised. As soulmates and fellow seekers in sound, John and Alice both transcended cultural and genre boundaries, helping to pioneer avant-garde and spiritual jazz. But following John's premature death in 1967, Alice began her solo career and would take forward their journey of creative and religious expansion. All this week, Kate Molleson is joined by journalist and broadcaster Kevin Le Gendre to dive into the lives and music of these monumental figures, and explore their contributions to the jazz world and beyond.

Today, Alice's world is turned upside down when John dies at the age of 40. Kate and Kevin explore how she channelled her grief into a new musical chapter, and at the same time, found her spiritual awakening.

Music featured:

Stopover Bombay (from Journey in Satchidananda)

The Sun (from Cosmic Music)

Lovely Sky Boat (from A Monastic Trio)

Ohnedaruth (from A Monastic Trio)

Blue Nile (from Ptah the el Daoud)

A Love Supreme (from World Galaxy)

Journey in Satchidananda (from Journey in Satchidananda)

Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre chart Alice's creative response to grief.

Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre explore the lives and music of revolutionary jazz power couple John and Alice Coltrane. Today - Alice's grief sparks a new creative direction.

Coltrane is a name that you're likely to have heard, even if you know very little about jazz. More than half a century after his death, saxophonist and composer John Coltrane is hailed as a giant of American cultural history, and one of 20th-century music's greatest visionaries. But he's not the only Coltrane. His wife, Alice, was an accomplished keyboardist and harpist who made revolutionary music in her own right, and whose contribution to John's late output has not always been fully recognised. As soulmates and fellow seekers in sound, John and Alice both transcended cultural and genre boundaries, helping to pioneer avant-garde and spiritual jazz. But following John's premature death in 1967, Alice began her solo career and would take forward their journey of creative and religious expansion. All this week, Kate Molleson is joined by journalist and broadcaster Kevin Le Gendre to dive into the lives and music of these monumental figures, and explore their contributions to the jazz world and beyond.

Today, divine instruction reveals Alice's new life purpose. Kate and Kevin discuss her retreat from the music profession, and the life she created for herself at Sai Anantam Ashram in California. In the privacy of her community, she made cassette recordings of original devotional music, which were almost lost to time. But now, a new generation of listeners are discovering the rich spectrum of her work.

Music featured:

Spiritual Eternal (from Eternity)

Sivaya (from Transcendence)

Going Home (from Lord of Lords)

Krishna Krishna (from Turiya Sings)

Translinear Light (from Translinear Light)

Rama rama (from The Ecstatic Music of Alice Coltrane Turiyasangitananda)

Govinda Jai Jai (from Radha-Krsna Nama Sankirtana)

Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre look at Alice's musical and spiritual homecoming.

Kate Molleson and Kevin Le Gendre explore the lives and music of revolutionary jazz power couple John and Alice Coltrane. Today - Alice finds her musical and spiritual home.