OSF: Keep It Coltrane

This week’s Old School Friday theme is Keep It in the Family. I’m going to focus on one extremely talented family, The Coltranes. No, this is not a musical group, but different songs by three different Coltranes.

Of course legendary John Coltrane anchors this playlist. In here is his version of “My Favorite Things” and him playing with Miles Davis on “Round Midnight” (probably one of my top 10 all-time favorite songs of any musical genre). Then there is wife Alice Coltrane and her version of “My Favorite Things,” and son Ravi Coltrane and his versions of “Round Midnight” and “Epistrophy.”

I have mentioned here before how I am fascinated by different versions of the same song. Well, different versions of the same song by family members is an even more interesting twist. And all this in the context of jazz—an art form already with improvisation and putting a new spin on things—ups the interest ante even more.

With John’s version of “My Favorite Things,” note his use of the soprano saxophone instead of his signature tenor. Alice Coltrane’s spin on this tune reflects her religious expression within her music—as did most of her more well-known songs including other of her versions of her husband’s songs. The original version of Thelonious Monk’s “Epistrophy” is another one of my all-time favorite jazz songs. On this one listen to John’s sax solo and contrast it with Ravi’s more hyper, fast paced sax.

There were so many other songs I could have chosen comparing and contrasting the versions of these three. I’m telling you, I could do this all day! And maybe I will—it is, after all, Old School Friday! Hope you have a good one and a great weekend.

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As always, a big thank you to OSF hostesses, Marvalus at Conversations with Marva

and MrsGrapevine.

Please check out the rules for joining and list of other OSF participants here.