John Coltrane Interview in Japan 1966 Part 1

[BerserkaViking]

frog

[ethnografica]

He was stoned out of his mind saying wanting to become a saint

He already was one for decades

and will forever

[littnlion]

wow, i would love to sit down and have a conversation with mr. coletrane. amazing.

[pgreenlief]

if you want to know more about coltrane and drug use, read eric nisenson's book, ascension: john coltrane and his quest ... get the fact before you begin moralizing.

[jabu003]

he spoke thorugh his horn....idiots !!

[livelovelisten100]

especially in regards to miles, i think alot of this he either chose not to share or there was somethin in the record companies telling him not "spill the secrets." in jazz, there is a natural element, but a tremendously larger amount is directly due to theoretical and intellectual aptitude, and the greats like coltrane undoubtedly could easily form their ever-changing approaches, persepectives, and attitudes into words, which i'm sure they shared amongst themselves. its not "ehhh i donno"

[Oneiricist]

@livelovelisten100 Wait, what? Why is it hard to believe that he just felt there was nothing interesting to say on the topic? Like a lot of deeply contemplative people, he probably just preferred to listen and leave the talking to others. Also I think anyone would feel slightly awkward around this interviewer, he's a bit overeager.

[livelovelisten100]

@Oneiricist ok understandable

[DaFenceBoyz]

What did he say at 2:33 about Miles? I couldn't understand him.

[SaXDuDe17]

Guys! We're missing the important thing here. Why the fuck is Coltrane playing alto?

[gwalkron]

@SaXDuDe17 Because on the 1966 tour to Japan, Yamaha lent/gave him & Pharoah Sanders one each to try.

[fujifour]

John was a very calm, collected and considered speaker. He thought about what he was going to say. RIP John.

[pharcelle1]

Thanks John!, You've done Us proud. Its just a shame that it took me so long and by chance at that', to hear you speak.. Listening to you man, was great' a privilege'.

As for any bad habits John' that don't even matter' you held on too enough of your

soul & spirit to be the Best 1 for blck ppl ! Thnks for staying clse to them!

[danirox79]

just needed to hear his voice today. Thank you.

[closetome]

strange stench from my dolphin flipper anyone?

[MCalixte89]

this interviewer needs to stop saying "uh huh" while coltrane is talking. secondly, he wasnt stoned but if he was , so the fuck what. weed is actually a freaking plant. so its not technically a narcotic. you have to chemically do shit to a substance for it to be considered a narcotic

[Muthaphuckka]

I've been a Coltrane fan for two years or so, this is the first time i've heard him talk. Kinda weird, 'cause he's so good at expressing himself through the sax, you'd expect him to just play instead of talk.

[arpeggios070590]

Who cares what he was on. Coltrane was a serious musician who contribution to the art form was invaluable. God I wish he were still alive today. He was the definition of cool

[spratters3803]

I don't see why he is being asked even one question about the Vietnam war? There is no valid point to these questions. Among other interviews including Miles Davis ones, the interviewer doesn't seem to be able to produce good quality questions. Am I wrong?

[IntuitiveMediums]

@14yearolddeadhead Listen to MEDITATIONS "Father Son and The Holy Ghost" Then tell me he is not on acid

[ColdDadaNothing]

This is my first time hearing Coltrane's voice. Cool shit man.

[aaronamccoy]

he sounds tired, his mind was always on music, chord structures, melody, the rest is silly to ask

[prvthampton]

@14yearolddeadhead ??? Dude, Coltrane was raised a Christian but he looked into all religions. One of his last albums was called OM. Which is Hindu. Which is what he was into just about the time of this interview.

Now his WIFE was muslim, but just like he did with his music, coltrane never stayed in one spot too long as far as organized religions are concerned.

And bigtime used drugs and bigtime took LSD

[JodyPierre]

@whiteej21 I travel a lot- I avoid that part of the country - believe me! Ha

[JodyPierre]

@whiteej21 OK- I stand corrected... Thanks Whitee

[JodyPierre]

I beg to differ- Trane was always an Honest, Sincere, and Interesting Interview- He spoke slowly, because he was a "country boy" at heart from the Carolinas... Laid-Back... Dig?

[iam01]

I can dig it.

[Flextones]

Trane was always a bad interview. He really was a not a talkative person.

[jmet718]

yeah i agree he talk like he doesnt want to brothered

[r0udy]

We can hear Coltrane speak on his recordings (Om, Love Supreme, Meditations...). That's his voice.

[lvperalta]

so, this is how he sounds like.

[Caligula138]

I was just thinking the same thing

[Dopeness2395]

it sounds a little slowed. but not by much

[MilesTrane21]

Are there any transcripts of this available. I couldn't understand a couple things.

[ChristopherTordini]

i don't think the audio is slowed down.

[SendInTheChickens]

The fucking audio is slowed down! Why can you people not fucking understand that? He's not fucking sleepy, he's not on drugs, it's the fucking recording! Idiots!

[omniverve]

Calm down...

[SendInTheChickens]

You calm down, you're out of control

[etdejazz]

Sorry, that IS the w Coltrane sounded. I've heard another interview that was done while he was driving. He spoke quite slow (not drugged). The recording is NOT slowed down.

[saxjonz]

not true man, I think the recording is jacked. I have heard him and he doesn't sound that way. Bad recording.

[513Lonestar]

coltrane sounds soo sleepy

[ppotopa]

He used to play alto. Listen to Giant Steps album. One take of -Countdown- andone take of -Giant Steps- are played on alto.

[whykatera81]

really?? im going to dig it up and take a listen.. thats very interesting

[513Lonestar]

Coltrane, if im correct, can play all variations of saxophones.

[ChrisCoplandDrums]

Correct. Like most other professionals then and now...

[whykatera81]

why is he playing alto in the pic???

[xenakis9]

He and Pharoah Sanders were give various Yamaha saxophones during their Japanese tour.

[SendInTheChickens]

You know why he sounds weird don't you? It's slowed down. This is not original speed. His voice is too deep, everything is slow and he sounds slow witted. No way his voice suddenly got this deep out of nowhere. You lot are pretty stupid!

[Stanfordstandout]

Thanks for uploading this

[ahsoman]

thats an alto in the pic

[ahleucha]

Agreed - Coltrane was a very reserved and thoughtful man, despite what impression his playing might give.

[JazzGrossman]

thanks for the interview, but coltrane was not stoned. thats the way he talks. remeber that he was a humble, and shy person

[opinioninflicting]

Maybe, but Louis Armstrong smoked pot everyday! Personally, I can't stand the stuff, but I used to smoke it long ago, and I remember the effects...and compare him here to the Kofsky interview, he sounds different. Most jazz/rock fellows did much, much more, all the time, all throughout the history of twentieth century music. I just think it's interesting, there's no need to moralize it. Would it surprise you to learn Coltrane smoked pot everyday? I don't know, maybe he did.

[JazzGrossman]

in 1957 coltrane had his so called "spiritual awakening" where he stopped taking drugs. i think he just smoked pipe and i dont know if he even drank alcohol. he was such a spiritual person. listen to the wise things he says. i think in 1965 coltrane was asked what his plans for the next year are. "to become a saint" he said. so i dont think that it is possible that he was stoned

[opinioninflicting]

The modern tendency to moralize drug use makes it impossible for you to consider it. Listen to yourself. He *wanted* to be a saint so he couldn't be taking drugs. Drug use can intuitively appear like "contamination" which looks like the opposite of "cleanliness" which means saintliness. It's nonsense, and I'd give 4/5 odds Coltrane was smoking a lot of pot and 19/20 odds Coltrane was on serious acid 65-67. Your moral conception of saintliness ain't everybody's.

[yardbirdsweet]

I think you're grossly oversimplifying this. Coltrane had already gone down a rocky path with drugs, which climaxed with him overdosing on heroin in the late fifties. After that, he not just quit drugs, but began exercising, eating healthy, and devoting as much time to practice as possible. In his later years, he did use LSD while performing, but this wasn't in the name of some fun, psychedelic escapade. This man was searching for God. Don't delude his music with generalizations.

[RyLay]

Well, the healthy eating may not have lasted long. In his late years he was verging on being over weight. But you're right about the drug use. It was for a greater purpose than just to get fucked up.

[mahoose6]

yardbirdsweet is right.

Great interview by the way.

[aaronamccoy]

@yardbirdsweet thats real

[bassrafe]

@opinioninflicting

read his book.

He stopped using heroin in 1957 but by 1966 he was sometimes taking lsd

[RMcGO28716]

@opinioninflicting What are you talking about. What business is it of yours what Cotranes was doing ?? Get over yourself man.

Coltrane the most innovative Jazz musician of our time & you bring it down to drug use ! Man you are really missing the point here. Are you a serious musician ? I kind of doubt it going by that comment. Have you heard the questions he is being asked ! They are dumb . Like did miles help you with your tenor playing .

Please listen to the music forget about ther maybes

[cavaleer]

@opinioninflicting Bro,. you're very far off on this. Appreciate posting the interview but you're way off.

[GI59SB]

@opinioninflicting

"it's possible, therefor it is" is not a valid argument against coltrane's sobriety during this interview

[bunsonian]

@opinioninflicting it's true JazzGrossman's opinion aint everyone's, but at that point (after 1957 when he went clean) it does seem to align with Coltrane's opinion..

Regardless, let's listen to what the man has to say instead of speculating on his drug use in the 60's. That's a pointless exercise

[daddysevenpointfiver]

wrong

[taildragger53]

@JazzGrossman He became a devotee of Sri Chinmoy as did his wife , Alice. Quit drugs COLD TURKEY! Even alcohol.

Before he was a big Heroin addict but he realised his ego was getting too big.

Thing is, the effects of Heroin are long lasting. Slurred speech, slowness.

Just listen to Joe Pass also..even many yrs after he quit he sounded stoned. Jackie McLean also.

[ladiezroom]

@taildragger53 don't forget mike stern!

[cavaleer]

@opinioninflicting Coltrane was long finished with drugs by this point. He was very public about entire thing. Also, he's from the South, so perhaps your ears are accustomed to the subtleties on those sounds and accents.

[TheLegitPigeon]

@opinioninflicting thats such a filthy lie....Louis Armstrong NEVER smoked weed.... He did whatever was best for his body

[bolder2009]

@TheLegitPigeon Actually its no secret anymore that Satchmo was a heavy weed smoker. According to Dexter Gordon, Louis told him that the reason he smoked weed was because it helped him to deal with the racism.