Olatunji Concert
Encyclopedia
The Olatunji Concert: The Last Live Recording is the Impulse! Records
-released final live recording of saxophonist John Coltrane
, recorded April 23, 1967, at the Olatunji Center of African Culture
in New York and released posthumously on Compact Disc. The album consists of two songs—"Ogunde
", which Coltrane also recorded for his final self-approved album, Expression
, and an especially free-form
"My Favorite Things
", which Coltrane had performed live regularly since 1960. The recording was done for broadcast on Billy Taylor
's local radio station, WLIB
.
On the recording, Coltrane performs intense and lengthy, if poorly recorded, solos
. Sonically, the album is notable for its overwhelming din of multiple drummers.
Rumors of Coltrane being deathly ill and unable to stand during the gig are dispelled in Lewis Porter's John Coltrane: His Life and Music. Rashied Ali
opines that Coltrane might have simply been tired that day. It was not until May—about a month after this show—that Coltrane began to complain of intense abdominal pain; he died two months after that, in July. The Olatunji Concert was not Coltrane's last show, but rather, his penultimate—he would play one more on May 7, 1967, in Baltimore.
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...
-released final live recording of saxophonist John Coltrane
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...
, recorded April 23, 1967, at the Olatunji Center of African Culture
Babatunde Olatunji
Babatunde Olatunji was a Nigerian drummer, educator, social activist and recording artist.- Biography :Olatunji was born in the village of Ajido, a small town near Badagry, Lagos State, in southwestern Nigeria. A member of the Yoruba people, Olatunji was introduced to traditional African music at...
in New York and released posthumously on Compact Disc. The album consists of two songs—"Ogunde
Ogunde (song)
- Reception :On the whole, "Ogunde" was well-received by critics. Discussing Coltrane's music in the months prior to his death in July 1967, jazz musician and educator Bill Cole noted that although Coltrane's "recording output during 1967 .....
", which Coltrane also recorded for his final self-approved album, Expression
Expression (album)
Expression is an album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. The title track was Coltrane's last studio recording; the rest of the album was recorded at about the same time as Interstellar Space. "To Be" features Coltrane on flute, the only recording he made on the instrument for an entire track...
, and an especially free-form
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...
"My Favorite Things
My Favorite Things (song)
"My Favorite Things" is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music.-The Sound of Music version:The song was first introduced by Mary Martin in the original Broadway production, and sung by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film.In the musical, the lyrics to the song are a...
", which Coltrane had performed live regularly since 1960. The recording was done for broadcast on Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor
Billy Taylor was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster and educator. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and since 1994, he was the artistic director for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in...
's local radio station, WLIB
WLIB
WLIB is an urban contemporary gospel AM radio station located in New York City. WLIB is owned by Inner City Broadcasting Corporation along with sister station WBLS...
.
On the recording, Coltrane performs intense and lengthy, if poorly recorded, solos
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
. Sonically, the album is notable for its overwhelming din of multiple drummers.
Rumors of Coltrane being deathly ill and unable to stand during the gig are dispelled in Lewis Porter's John Coltrane: His Life and Music. 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:...
opines that Coltrane might have simply been tired that day. It was not until May—about a month after this show—that Coltrane began to complain of intense abdominal pain; he died two months after that, in July. The Olatunji Concert was not Coltrane's last show, but rather, his penultimate—he would play one more on May 7, 1967, in Baltimore.
Track listing
- Introduction by Billy TaylorBilly TaylorBilly Taylor was an American jazz pianist, composer, broadcaster and educator. He was the Robert L. Jones Distinguished Professor of Music at East Carolina University in Greenville, and since 1994, he was the artistic director for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in...
– 0:35 - "OgundeOgunde (song)- Reception :On the whole, "Ogunde" was well-received by critics. Discussing Coltrane's music in the months prior to his death in July 1967, jazz musician and educator Bill Cole noted that although Coltrane's "recording output during 1967 .....
" – 28:25 - "My Favorite ThingsMy Favorite ThingsMy Favorite Things may refer to:* "My Favorite Things" , a song from the musical The Sound of Music* My Favorite Things , an album by John Coltrane, or the title instrumental, an interpretation of the Sound of Music song-See also:...
" – 34:38
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...
– sopranoSoprano saxophoneThe soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in...
and tenorTenor 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...
saxophoneSaxophoneThe saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846... - 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 .... - Alice ColtraneAlice ColtraneAlice Coltrane, née McLeod was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, and composer.-Biography:...
– pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Algie DeWitt – Batá drum
- Jimmy GarrisonJimmy GarrisonJimmy Garrison was an American jazz double bassist born in Miami, Florida. He was best known through his long association with John Coltrane from 1961–1967.-Biography:...
– double bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Pharoah SandersPharoah SandersPharoah Sanders is a Grammy Award–winning American jazz saxophonist.Saxophonist Ornette Coleman once described him as "probably the best tenor player in the world." Emerging from John Coltrane's groups of the mid-60s Sanders is known for his overblowing, harmonic, and multiphonic techniques on...
– tenor saxophone - Juma SantosJuma SantosJuma Santos, also known as James P. Riley and Dr. Juma Santos was a percussionist and master drummer known for his extensive work over four decades with African music, caribbean music, jazz, fusion, and R&B artists.Born James P...
– percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration...
(possibly)