John Coltrane's Spiritual Jazz Legacy Endures, 100 Years After His Birth

John Coltrane, a saxophonist born on September 23, 1926, is a crucial figure in jazz, leaving a lasting impact on modern music through his ethereal approach. His landmark 1965 album, A Love Supreme, released following his battle with addiction, is a foundational work in "spiritual jazz," consisting of four parts: "Acknowledgement," "Resolution," "Pursuance," and "Psalm." This album embodies Coltrane's spiritual rebirth and has influenced musicians such as Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders. Established in 1969, the St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church honors him as a divine entity. Prominent artists in the spiritual jazz resurgence include Kamasi Washington, recognized for The Epic, and Shabaka Hutchings, who fuses multiple styles. Today, "spiritual jazz" encompasses a wide range of atmospheric sounds, including Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly.