Interstellar Space
Encyclopedia
Interstellar Space was one of the final studio albums recorded by the saxophonist John Coltrane
before his death in 1967, originally-released posthumously by Impulse! Records
on LP in 1974.
suite
in four parts with the drummer Rashied Ali
, and was recorded at the Van Gelder Studios on February 22, 1967, the week after the session that produced Stellar Regions
. As a result, the melodies
often overlap; "Venus" has the same melody as the title track of the previous LP, "Mars" quotes the melody of what became known as "Iris", and many note choices and runs are similar.
The structure of each track is fairly uniform: Coltrane plays some largely ceremonial wind-chime like bells, while Ali sets a shifting pattern on the drums; then the theme is stated by Coltrane on tenor saxophone
. The album is an important example of highly improvised free jazz
, which was Coltrane's principal interest in the latter part of his career. Coltrane's improvisations are thus extremely free here, stating tacit modes and harmonies briefly and modulating constantly, fitting extremely dense, twisting expressions into breath-length phrases. The folkish "Venus" is probably the most accessible number; "Saturn", the longest piece, does feature hints of swing by song's end. Its melody is rather similar to the canonical, almost cantor
-like quality of the material on Stellar Regions.
"Leo", also listed as such on Coltrane's Live in Japan box set, is presumably a variation on "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost" from the 1965 album Meditations
. (The theme for "Leo" was frequently played in conjunction with the two-tenor opening for "The Father, the Son and Holy Ghost" in concert, though it is always called "Leo" in Impulse! sessions.) It is distinct, in title and structure, from the rest of the album. Firstly, it is named for a constellation rather than a planet; furthermore, the track opens not with an introduction by Ali, but rather, by an immediate statement of the theme by Coltrane. As well, the use of bells is different, appearing intermittently, and mostly towards the end. In this sense it is similar to the track "Saturn", which contains no bells at all.
and drummer Gregg Bendian
collaborated on Interstellar Space Revisited: The Music of John Coltrane. This version saw Cline and Bendian offering their versions of "Mars", "Leo", "Venus", "Jupiter" and "Saturn", from the Interstellar Space sessions.
2000 Compact Disc bonus tracks
The 2000 CD reissue also includes a brief rehearsal fragment as well as two false starts of "Jupiter Variation" and studio chatter between Coltrane and Ali. These outtakes are hidden in the pre-gap before "Mars".
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
before his death in 1967, originally-released posthumously by Impulse! Records
Impulse! Records
Impulse! Records was an American jazz record label, originally established in 1960 by producer Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Records, based in New York City...
on LP in 1974.
Composition
Interstellar Space consists of an extended duetDuet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
suite
Suite
In music, a suite is an ordered set of instrumental or orchestral pieces normally performed in a concert setting rather than as accompaniment; they may be extracts from an opera, ballet , or incidental music to a play or film , or they may be entirely original movements .In the...
in four parts with the drummer Rashied Ali
Rashied Ali
Rashied Ali, born Robert Patterson was an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz drummer best known for playing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life.-Biography:...
, and was recorded at the Van Gelder Studios on February 22, 1967, the week after the session that produced Stellar Regions
Stellar Regions
Stellar Regions is a posthumous release by John Coltrane, discovered in 1994 by the artist's wife, Alice Coltrane, who plays piano on the session...
. As a result, the melodies
Melody
A melody , also tune, voice, or line, is a linear succession of musical tones which is perceived as a single entity...
often overlap; "Venus" has the same melody as the title track of the previous LP, "Mars" quotes the melody of what became known as "Iris", and many note choices and runs are similar.
The structure of each track is fairly uniform: Coltrane plays some largely ceremonial wind-chime like bells, while Ali sets a shifting pattern on the drums; then the theme is stated by Coltrane on tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
. The album is an important example of highly improvised free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
, which was Coltrane's principal interest in the latter part of his career. Coltrane's improvisations are thus extremely free here, stating tacit modes and harmonies briefly and modulating constantly, fitting extremely dense, twisting expressions into breath-length phrases. The folkish "Venus" is probably the most accessible number; "Saturn", the longest piece, does feature hints of swing by song's end. Its melody is rather similar to the canonical, almost cantor
Cantor (church)
A cantor is the chief singer employed in a church with responsibilities for the ecclesiastical choir; also called the precentor....
-like quality of the material on Stellar Regions.
"Leo", also listed as such on Coltrane's Live in Japan box set, is presumably a variation on "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost" from the 1965 album Meditations
Meditations (album)
Meditations is a 1965 album by John Coltrane. It features Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders as soloists, both playing tenor saxophones. Much of the recording is fairly avant-garde, featuring extensive passages in free rhythm and extended saxophone techniques such as honked and overblown notes, as well...
. (The theme for "Leo" was frequently played in conjunction with the two-tenor opening for "The Father, the Son and Holy Ghost" in concert, though it is always called "Leo" in Impulse! sessions.) It is distinct, in title and structure, from the rest of the album. Firstly, it is named for a constellation rather than a planet; furthermore, the track opens not with an introduction by Ali, but rather, by an immediate statement of the theme by Coltrane. As well, the use of bells is different, appearing intermittently, and mostly towards the end. In this sense it is similar to the track "Saturn", which contains no bells at all.
Covers
In 1999 guitarist Nels ClineNels Cline
Nels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
and drummer Gregg Bendian
Gregg Bendian
Gregg Bendian is a jazz percussionist and composer, primarily a vibraphonist. He was born on July 13, 1963 in Englewood, New Jersey.Bendian studied under Noel DaCosta. He has played and recorded with Nels Cline, Pat Metheny, Derek Bailey, Peter Brötzmann, Steve Hunt, Gary Lucas and Cecil Taylor...
collaborated on Interstellar Space Revisited: The Music of John Coltrane. This version saw Cline and Bendian offering their versions of "Mars", "Leo", "Venus", "Jupiter" and "Saturn", from the Interstellar Space sessions.
Track listing
- "Mars" – 10:41
- "Venus" – 8:28
- "Jupiter" – 5:22
- "Saturn" – 11:33
2000 Compact Disc bonus tracks
- "Leo" – 10:53
- "Jupiter variation" – 6:44
The 2000 CD reissue also includes a brief rehearsal fragment as well as two false starts of "Jupiter Variation" and studio chatter between Coltrane and Ali. These outtakes are hidden in the pre-gap before "Mars".
Personnel
- John ColtraneJohn ColtraneJohn William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
– tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, bellsBell (instrument)A bell is a simple sound-making device. The bell is a percussion instrument and an idiophone. Its form is usually a hollow, cup-shaped object, which resonates upon being struck... - Rashied AliRashied AliRashied Ali, born Robert Patterson was an American free jazz and avant-garde jazz drummer best known for playing with John Coltrane in the last years of Coltrane's life.-Biography:...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....