The 37th annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert: A Love Supreme
The Friends of the John Coltrane Memorial Concert (FJCMC) in collaboration with the Northeastern Center for the Arts present the 2014 John Coltrane Memorial Concert celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Coltrane’s majestic suite, “A Love Supreme”, considered by many to be the greatest spiritual jazz composition of all time. This year’s featured guest is Donald Harrison, New Orleans saxophonist, composer, arranger and principal consultant for the “Treme” series on HBO.
Mr. Harrison will join with master musicians Bill Pierce, Carl Atkins, George W. Russell, Jr., John Ramsay, Ron Mahdi, Yoron Israel and Leonard Brown. Together, this all-star ensemble will perform contemporary versions of some of Coltrane’s sacred music from the later stages of his life that served to bring the devotional essence of African and African American music to “jazz.” A feature of the evening will be the Ensemble’s performance of the complete “A Love Supreme” Suite with recitation of Coltrane’s prayer by Eric Jackson of WGBH radio, who will also serve as host for the evening.
The annual Friends of John Coltrane Memorial Concert has a tradition of presenting world-class musicians and creative artists. The first memorial concert was performed in Boston in 1977, the 10th year anniversary of Coltrane’s death.
The John Coltrane Memorial Concert is produced by Leonard Brown Associate Professor of Music & African American Studies) and Emmett G. Price III, (Associate Professor of Music and former chair of the Department of African American Studies).
Feature photo by Bruce Hamilton.