A Love Supreme
John Coltrane
1965
Album Summary
A Love Supreme is an album by American jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. He recorded it in one session on December 9, 1964, at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, leading a quartet featuring pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones. A Love Supreme was released by Impulse! Records in January 1965. One of Coltrane's bestselling albums, it is widely considered his masterpiece.
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What can be said about this album that hasnt already been said? Its absolutley incredible. Im not a jazz expert, and have only listened to about 4 dozen jazz albums, so I dont understand the music theory of it all, I just know that its an incredible experience to listen to this.
It’s Coltrane at his best, in what world was I not going to give this album 5 stars? There have been so many positive reviews written about this album that I’m not sure how much else so have to say but it really is that good. Everybody plays so well together and the solos are perfect. My criteria for a 10 is basically that I don’t think the album could be any better and this album certainly fits that description. Favorite songs: Yes Least favorite songs: No 10/10
One of the most important records ever made, John Coltrane's A Love Supreme was his pinnacle studio outing, that at once compiled all of the innovations from his past, spoke to the current of deep spirituality that liberated him from addictions to drugs and alcohol, and glimpsed at the future innovations of his final two and a half years.
Takes several listens to really get, especially for those not used to jazz. First track gets improvised, demonstrating Coltrane's insane talent as a sax player. Love the "A Love Supreme" underlying the entire track, starting off the song clearly then stepping out of the shadows via Coltrane's vocals at the end. Second track starts taking an intense turn. This becomes a very powerful album, with Coltrane's attempt to play as though God was speaking through their instruments. It gets crazy from time to time, invoking several instances of emotion and power, like the drum solo in the first part and near the end of Pursuance. In fact, the last track Psalm is entirely a consistent preach which goes along to written lyrics spoken through sax. I wish I could explain the theory behind this work and what makes this "modal jazz," but I'll save that for another few years (hopefully). For now, I find this to be an amazing piece of art with wonderful diversity that demonstrate both immense talent and powerful messages that convey deep emotion to the listener.
John Coltrane, already well-establish as a one of jazz's greats, wanted to go in a different direction after his last album. Leaning more into avant-garde jazz, Coltrane blended elements of faith and religion to create what is effectively a new subgenre of jazz: Spiritual Jazz. More spiritual in form than in substance, A Love Supreme is a piece that honor's Coltrane's relationship with God. It is reflective, passionate, and amazing in it's music. Not only that, but this record would mark a move into free jazz, for both Coltrane and Impulse! Records. Context aside, this is a beautiful jazz record. It's a little weird, but makes up for it in spades with expert use of dynamics and improvisation that only seasoned jazz musicians could follow through on. Excellence had never sounded so good. God bless.
A one-time contender for my favourite jazz album, I've cooled on this over the last couple of years. Not that I think it's anything resembling bad. Frequently funky, surprising and exciting, the closest I can get to laying my finger on the root of my reservations is that those qualities are rarely co-present and that seems like part of the design, which also seems to be deliberately challenging and as a result stops me from getting transported the way Coltrane is. Except when he chants "A love supreme". Despite its simplicity--probably because of it--that always hits me as the most transcendent moment.
Famous sax player Joshua Redman said 'A Love Supreme is the first jazz album I ever heard, and I really hope it is the last I ever hear.' This is the best piece of jazz music that will ever exist.
I enjoy jazz when accompanied by great food, or good conversations with wonderful friends. I also use it sometimes at work but not typically as my focal point of attention. I enjoyed this album, my least favorite being in part I when they keep vocalizing “a love supreme” and I was hoping this wasn’t a trend to continue. Luckily it wasn’t, I loved part II but I think part III was my favorite with how it started with the drums and had all these sections building.
I am still trying to get more into jazz. This was an okay listen, and it wasn't necessarily difficult to get through but I'm not sure if I enjoyed it. Still, I appreciate the talent here.
Jazz is a lot like England's "golden generation" of footballers. On paper, there's a lot of superstars but in practice, each player seems to be out of sync with each other and playing to their own tune.
The more I listen to jazz from being exposed via this site, the more I'm realizing that I just don't really like jazz. I can appreciate the musicianship, but it's just not something I'd choose to listen to.
Thank god that was short, I couldn't handle much more. Occasionally that was a good bit but then it would be overthrown by someone who fell on the piano or pushed over a bass.
I like some jazz and I like some jazz less. This is the type where 3 or 4 musicians appear to get together and do their own thing without any interest or care what the others are doing. Personally I'd rather listen to an orchestra tuning up.
One of the most well-known Jazz records for a reason. It's not my first listen, and it won't be my last. I have not listened to a lot of John Coltrane, but this is a great album.
I need to dive deeper into Coltrane. This spoke to me and I want to know more of how and why. Ah, jazz.
Jazz. Raw, unapologetic, beautiful, soulful, all of those other words that have certainly been said about it over the years, and more. This album is great, and definitely deserves a high spot on this list.
This is is, this is the one. This and Kind of Blue. If you had to pick two jazz albums to take with you before jazz disappeared, it’d probably be one of those. It’s truly an achievement in sound, playing, recording, all of it. It’s no wonder this is cited in so many lists. Favorite song: all Least favorite: none
I was working while listening to this, and unlike Black Saint, I wasn't distracted by any obnoxious muted horns, so I'd say I liked this very much. I also love using commas, apparently. 5 stars babeeeeee
A classic album by one of the greats, I’ve never taken the time to really dig into Coltrane’s work but his talent and accomplishments are undeniable.
I love everything about this album except for the part where they chant a Love supreme. the improvisations and overall Vibe are just so much fun, and it's interesting to think about where this one lives in history as Coltrane and Davis's relationship progressed
Coltrane's sax texture is all over the map in the best possible way. THE BASS SOLO ON PART THREE!
Schon oft gehört - aber wohl nie oft genug. Tatsächlich gibt es jedes Mal was neues zu entdecken auf dieser Reise, die noch so harmonisch und konzentriert beginnt, um dann immer stärker am Geschmack der Freiheit zu schnuppern und die Frage zu suchen deren Antwort 42 lautet, sich selbst in der Gleichung auflösen will und schließlich eins wird mit der kosmischen Existenz.
Gilt als Meisterwerk, nicht wegzudenken aus dem Kanon, gottgleich die Verehrung. Tue mich aber seit jeher schwer mit dieser Aufnahme (der Blue Train fährt cooler). An manchen Tagen hat “A Love Supreme“ die Kraft, graue Wolken vor den schmutzigen Fenster hinfort zu blasen. An anderen stellt sich eher ein Gefühl des Aushaltens ein. Das meist permanent hohe Tempo zwingt zum konzentrierten Hinhören, eine Aufgabe, für die es manchmal eine Kraft und Kontemplation braucht, die man aufzubringen nicht immer vermag. Musik als Rechenaufgabe oder Rätsel - faszinierend und (über)fordernd zugleich. Aber im guten Moment das magisch unbeschreibliche Begreifen ohne je eine Note zu kennen. Ehrlich diffuse Gefühle; selten verrückt, wie die Platte je nach subjektiver Empfindung morpht. Aber ein Sturm ist kein Buchhalter, sondern bläst und tobt unverzeihlich, wo und wie er will. Krasse 4.5
No i pojawil sie swiety Jan Jazzowy, dodatkowo tak blisko od siebie znalazly sie jedne z najwazniejszych plyt jazzowych, bo po ostatnim kind of blue nie sadzilem, ze szybko uslysze cos rownie dobrego, a tym razem, jak zreszta zazwyczaj, mylilem sie, wiec a love supreme, czyli synteza ewolucji jazzowej lat 50-60 zawarta w materiale, ktory bez slow opowiada swoja historie, moze nie do konca bez slow, bo jednak otwierajacy acknowledgment, zawiera chant ktory jest tytulem albumu, a powiazujac tytul traka z chantem dostajemy odpowiedz na pytanie co bedzie motywem przewodnim plyty, wdziecznosc za muzyke, wdziecznosc za zycie, wdziecznosc za cel, wdziecznosc za milosc, a jako ze Coltrane, ktorego okreslilem jako swietego byl mocno wierzaca osoba, praktykujaca wiare w Boga, bez przynaleznosci do scisle okreslonej religii, to dzielo prawdopodobnie bylo adresowane do niego, ma to sens takze patrzac na kolejne plyty, gdzie rowniez wyraznie widoczna jest nawet na samych tytulach ich duchowosc, ascension, aeditations, om, to tylko kilka z przykladow, wiec nie tylko jak trwoga to do Boga, ale takze z dziekczynnymi dzwiekami, a jak mozna lepiej podziekowac za talenty i cel w zyciu niz stworzyc plyte, ktora asymiluje eksperymepty modalno bebopowe jakie tworzyl na poprzednich materialach, wiec plyte otwiera modalnosc acknowledgementa, przechodzacy w kadencyjny resolution grany na 8 taktow, zeby przejsc do iscie bluesowego grania w 12 taktach na pursuance, a konczac znowu modalnosciowa ekspresja psalmu, zagrane z udzialem kwartetu coltrane na dwoch saksach, tenorowej i sopranowej, garrison na kontrabasie, jones na drumsach i dodatkowych gongach, no i tyner na klawiszach, jak w wiekszosci swoich przypadkow, najlepiej opowiada historie ten kto ja napisal, wiec scena jest mocno coltranowa pod tym wzgledem, zmniejszenie liczby instrumentow w nagraniach jazzowych na przestrzeni lat wplywa na to, ze latwiej jest stworzyc material dobry, bo mniejsza ilosc mozliwoych bledow, ale jednoczesnie ciezko stworzyc cos niezwyklego bo rzeczy nieslyszalne nigdzie indziej sa wlasnie czesto kwestia przypadku, ale w tym wypadku jest to z pewnoscia album wyjatkowy, nie tylko ze wzgledu na niasacy z soba muzyczny przekaz, ale rowniez jest kamieniem milowym w tworzeniu free jazzu, ktory pozwala na ekspresje tworcza zarowno kompozytora jak i grajacego, jako material podzielony na party ktore sie wzajemnie komplementuja i uzupelniaja powinien byc sluchany w calosci, wiec nie wrzucam tutaj nic na plejliste, a plyta juz byla od dawna oznaczona w biblioteczce krazkowej spotifaja, oby jak najwiecej takich pickow
A dark, blurry, improvisational groove. There is something primal and transcendent going on here
Clásico del jazz, no aburre nunca. Voltaje revienta el saxo. El batería es quizás lo mejor. Genial
I'm not sure if I'm able to give an informed comment on a classic jazz album. A reminder that I need to listen to more jazz. But this is a standard. 5 STARS!
A beautiful jazz album. Relaxing and pleasant. Maybe the best jazz album I've listened to.
50. Somos fumo e um fogo ligeiro. Definidos por pressa de acabar o que ficou para trás. Despacha lá isto, pá. Antes feito que perfeito. MotA: Pt. III - Pursuance
5/5 probablement un des meilleurs dans son genre avec kind of blue. À écouter et réécouter et réécouter. Un classique
this is another one i've been looking forward to coming up in the rotation. i know My Favorite Things very well, but this one hardly at all - until now! because, helpfully, the entire thing is here twice, and some of it 3x. so that's cool - i appreciate the efficiency story there. the complexity of this whole album is just mind-blowing. simple beats building to ridiculous rhythms, and coltrane's sax just climbing the walls...except when he hauls back hard on that line and manages to restrain it - but you know that thing just wants to wail for all it's worth, and when it does, there's nothing like it.
I had heard this album a few times and, though I was a fan of parts 1 & 4, I found part 3, with its squonky bits and 2 drum solos a little much. However, on re-listen I like the way that the drums set up an awesome McCoy Tyner solo and in general, I love Elvin Jones’ loose and impromptu playing throughout. I’ve had other Coltrane albums on high rotation over the years but I’m glad that 1001 forced me to listen again this one again, with greater concentration. He takes post-bop jazz and makes it feel spiritual. It's a shame he died a couple of years later.
Oh yes. This is sitting in a smoky bar, drinking a whiskey, and watching the band wail onstage. I am about this life.
I don't care what happened this week. Eryka started us off strong and John is finishing us stronger. How can you ask for anything more than the perfect four track 30 minute jazz session we get today? John looks mad in this album cover but it seemed like he was having a great time. Loved this.
Dit is ultiem goated!!! Wat een artist wat een muziek. Hebbek nodig om vinyl voor die ultieme setting.
Fantastic stuff. Can get a bit too manic at times so I can see why people might not like it. However, the manic never gets overwhelming and I'm not really sure how. A testament to his genius I suppose.
Monumental. From a simple theme grows jazz played with a sense of spiritual purpose, instilled with passion, intent, and real feeling. You won't find dance hits here, but careful listening will reward those willing to do so.
Classic jazz album filled to the brim with beautiful, soul-searching rhythms. Experimental but not too experimental to wall off mainstream appeal. Do yourself a favor and listen to this all-time great.
Yeah, I don't know what to say. It's damn near perfect. One of those records that any perceived deficiency is probably due to my lack of context/knowledge.
Amazing album, fantastic playing, great sound. Still amused by how underwhelmed the singing is after such sparkling music. They sound like they're high schoolers being made to recite something. But hey, it's honest, it's pure, it's amazing.
Classic classic classic--doesn't make it any easier to absorb. Even now that first track, I still don't really know whether the drums, the piano, and John were in the same room. It somehow still all comes together, the magic of jazz and Coltrane and that band. Not as "listenable" as Kind of Blue, so I don't love it as much as that album, definitely still five stars.
As someone who likes to play the saxophone, Coltrane is a bit of an idol. While not as melodious as other Jazz greats, Coltrane more than makes up for it in creativity. A masterpiece that I wish were longer.
A kind of blue mi je najbolji jazz album, a ovaj mi je drugi najbolji. Ak uzmemo standardnu devijaciju ranga svih jazz albuma ikad napravljenih, a sigurno je normalna distribucija, onda ovaj isto zaslužuje peticu.
s guštom san slušala, baš maestralno sviraju, naravno saksofon dominira, al ne bi tribalo zanemarit klavir, bas i bubnjeve, odlični su!
I've never been a jazz expert but I can still enjoy how great this album is. Explaining how great this is may be another question.
Even without really understanding all the reasons, it's easy to recognize a masterpiece when I see one.
Wow. I've never listened to this, but have always wanted to. What a masterpiece. It is such a beautiful expression of humanity. Always surprising, but in a way that keeps you in the piece. This could be listened to both in the background of a coffee shop and on head phones in the dark. Gorgeous.
I had listened to this album some time ago, and I appreciate it more now than I did then.
As near perfection you can get with a jazz album. I'm probably in the minority by thinking that Giant Steps is superior, but Love Supreme is a stellar work. 4.5/5.
One of the most amazing pieces of recorded music in history. The album is transcending, no more needs to be said.
Rare among jazz albums in that I feel like I genuinely get it, I think it's a masterpiece. This might not be considered a ringing endorsement given my general ignorance, but I'll stand by it.
Spiritual. If you're in the right frame of mind, hard to describe it as anything else.
Another groundbreaking album and modal jazz classic. This album in four movement takes a more avant garde approach to the form with its experimental rhythms and improvisation. Though less melodic than his work on Kind of Blue, this album is very listenable and has a lot to offer the casual jazz listener. This is one of those albums that rewards multiple listens.
Must Hear if there ever was a Must Hear. Really Futuristic... (9/10) FT: A Love Supreme, Pt. I – Acknowledgement
Wonderful. Solos from piano, trumpet, saxophone, drums. It was like you sat down at a bar and just listened to a whole set.
Definitely a must-own record for any collection and a seminal record in the jazz genre.
It's weird how jazz albums with 2 songs on an album side are considered "classic" yet rock albums with just 2 songs are "excessive" or "pretentious". I don't listen to enough jazz, but what I do listen to I like or love. And this album I love. I wish I listened to it more.
Its enchanting, mesmerizing and yet cognitively exhausting to listen to, somewhat akin to the sirens' call from The Odyssey. I can't even begin to comprehend the complexity of the performance and the skill required to pull it off with this much elegance and emotion, let alone the genius and intimate musical intuition required to absolutely nail it in a single take. I will need to come back to this album many more times before I can fully appreciate it, and I'll be glad to do it.
10/10 album I could get into every little thing I love about this album but none of it would even compare to the 33 minutes it would take you to actually just listen to it
Jazz... Coltrane. What is there to say negative about this? It's refreshing. Great music on a cold winter night by the fire. Great background music when entertaining guests. Great sitting on the deck in the fall watching the sun set.
From the first sound of the gong you are aware that you’re about to witness greatness. Jones’ cymbal washing and later use of timpani is breathtaking, but it is nonetheless Coltrane that stands out as the main character in what can easily be described as his magnum opus. Another milestone by Coltrane that still stands tall almost 60 years later.
One of the few albums where I can still remember the first time I listened to it. Incredible how Coltrane translates the incredible skills of the entire group of musicians into something spiritual and almost otherworldly.
Awesome album. So many instruments used beautifully throughout the tracklist. If I had to pick one instrument that stuck out the most, I would go with the piano. Whoever played the piano gave a 10/10 performance. I would recommend this album to anyone.
I mean, c’mon, what can I say here? Superb album that incredibly complex yet entirely accessible. Saxophone is god
Even I've heard of this one. Quite hypnotic and atmospheric. I like the sax above other jazz instruments and this doesn't disappoint. Don't find it too overwhelming either. Great record.
Mix is interesting, all harmony in the middle, melody on the left, percussion on the right. 1965 so that stuff probably wasn't totally figured out yet. Insane musicianship though. Fucking crazy how they all play off of each other, somehow out of time and in time all at once. Oh shit there's vocals now, a creepy chant, "A love supreme". Really incredible album. I love this.
Fuck, finally. I've been waiting for far too long for a John Coltrane album on this list, and this is my favorite John Coltrane album (at among his albums as a band leader). It's a masterpiece from beginning to end; the product of a truly beautiful soul. Coltrane's virtuosity is on display often on the album, but he's also restrained in service of making a more cohesive piece of music Frankly, I don't know what else to say about this album. It gives me goosebumps when I hear it. Go experience it for yourself 5/5
This is one of my favorite compositions. It is inspiring to hear Trane bear his soul through his playing.
My first and still my favorite Coltrane album. Nobody will ever cover A Love Supreme, nor should they; it stands into the future as a testament to the greatest jazz can offer.
I have a vinyl copy of this masterpiece, so cracked a beer and put it on. It's not one that I can just have on in the background, it demands your attention. I'm by no means a jazz connoisseur, but I think I've listened to a decent portion of the all time greats. This is by far one of the finest I've listened to. It's quite experimental and has some passages that border on "free jazz", so it's not one I'd recommend for someone new to the genre. I don't have the knowledge to fully understand the music theory, but to my ear there's nothing missing here and no fat to be trimmed at all. Other than that, I'm not sure what else I can say that hasn't already been said. 10/10.
Not only a spectacular jazz album, A Love Supreme is a beautiful expression of the relationship between man and God. Coltrane’s saxophone wails and sobs like a sinner yearning to be cleansed.
I didn't realize I liked jazz until I listened to this album. The first track was simply outstanding. There were parts during the latter half of the album that seemed to go on a little long, but it was still phenomenal regardless.
In general, jazz is something I always wanted to get into , though I don't know that much about it. Like, wtf makes this one of the best albums ever made? Sounds like jazz to me. Good moments in there, and I bet that if I pay real good attention, I'd get even more out of it. Who knows. It's a fun listen though. And the cool thing about jazz is all the dynamism. Goes all over the place. And hearing where the next place they'll take you musically is cool. It's like an excercise in presence. Most pop songs, it's all about expectation and payoff I think. The bass drops just when it needs to. But with jazz, it's a constant flow. THings come out of nowhere. And most likely when "jazz that's not jazz" is when it tries to prevent that unpredictability. Lol maybe I do like jazz!
Good background noise nice jazz been wanting to get into jazz this is pretty good wouldn’t listen to without doing something else.
I've heard the name Coltrane before but never listened to any of his music. Very pleasant music. I'm not a huge fan of jazz but maybe I was in the right mood or something, this really was good!
This is one of my favorite albums I have discovered so far. Its not an everyday listen, I will have to be in the mood for it. But for sure I will be listening again, and again, and again. Dat Drummer be Crazy. drums out of 5
Harder to get into than the other Miles Davis though I am somewhat aware of the intense musical stuff that’s going on. 8
Was so excited to listen to another jazz album especially one from a musician I had heard of :)
Now this is some soulful stuff. I really dig the structure and concept of this album a lot.
7/10. I am terrible at rating Jazz type stuff, but didn't seem as interesting as some of the others we have had.
Not much of an appreciation for jazz but still thought it was good. Less good than Kind of Blue, so 8/10 ?
Hyvää jamittelua! Tosin en osaa sanoa miksi juuri tämä levy listalla. Tätä ei pitäisi kuunnella työn ohessa kuulokkeilla vaan esim. perjantai-iltana nojatuolissa laadukkaista kaiuttimista.
Absolute class, such good musicians. I still don't properly understand jazz enough to appreciate it to its full worth, but this was mint. Oozes class. 4/5
Music doesn’t need words to tell a story. Coltrane leads you through darkened city streets in pursuit of a lost lover, his saxophone guiding your every step, as other instruments - mischievous drums, stolid, menacing double bass, alluring piano - try to steal your attention and your affection. Gorgeous. Melancholy. To be listened to again and again.
Jazz isn't really my thing, but this album was very interesting to listen to. I loved the loose structure with punctuated hits of beautiful brass.
A beautiful masterpiece. Coltrane's expression in this album is conveyed from every complex section to the most subtle of ditties. Pt. III - Pursuance is a spiritual journey. Jazz is not my forte or most expansive genre, but it doesn't take a trained ear to know Coltrane's magnus opus is musical genius.
Loved the last song w/ bass starting. 1st ever jazz album listen in its entirety. Enjoyed it and would like to listen to it again.
I love the smooth jazz. Love the saxophone and its nice sound. Great album to put on and listen to while doing something else or just lying down and relaxing.
While I'm not necessarily a huge jazz fan, quite enjoyable. I can understand why it's a classic. Probably worth 5 stars aside from personal preferences. Still, likely I'll come back to it.
I’m a huge fan of saxophone and jazz so this was absolutely delightful! Great background music for sipping coffee in the morning, reading a book, or a night drive through the city.
Nunca antes había escuchado un disco de jazz, y la verdad es que este me gusto mucho, desde la batería hasta el saxo, me dieron ganas de meterme a una banda de jazz xd
This is certainly an iconic jazz album but I think his earlier work eg Giant steps, Ole, My favourite things and the monumental Blue Train are better.
In your face JAZZ!! If you can embrance the note avalanche and tumble in the chaos it's quite and experience. Rather good.
It's a beautiful album, but just reinforces my awareness that I don't really understand jazz, as I can't really see what sets it apart from other great jazz records. I guess I need a deeper dive.
Nice, short album. Honestly, a bit stressful to me, very frenetic jazz. Coltrane is a legend of course, but I found this one slightly more difficult to listen to than other jazz albums due to the energy. Still great though, I'd just prefer something a bit more laid back. Favorite tracks: Acknowledgement, Pursuance. Album art: About as boring as they come. Not only black and white, but just a picture of Coltrane. It always breaks my spirit when classic albums like this have weak covers. 4/5