Date:	09-Mar-2001 19:00:38
From:	Chuck Hutcheson (chuck_hutcheson@yahoo.com)
	John Coltrane's music has had a very positive influence on my life as a musician and as a person. Being familiar with how John Coltrane kicked his drug habit, practiced so diligently and passionately, and lived his life as a gentle soul, his portionable inspiration definitely has made an impact not just with me, but I'm sure others as well. I will never forget the first time I heard his original recording of "Naima". As a student in college working towards my music degree, being a gentle and easy-going person myself, that particular time for me was somewhat carefree and laid-back. I was discovering what jazz truly was and is. Having necessarily discovered Coltrane's music opened up a whole new emotional spectrum for me. Most serious jazzers love Coltrane's concepts and explorations which were termed "sheets of sound", but my favorite aspects of Coltrane's playing are how he handled a ballad, how he was able to 'lay into' the feel of a soft and lyrical melody, and how he so well expressed a thought, just as he did when he penned "Naima", or soloed so sweetly on his album "Ballads". Coltrane's most notable musical influence for me has to be his expressivity, whether playing full-tilt on a modal concept ("Impressions"), or exploring further well known tunes and stretching the boundaries of how they could be presented ("My Favorite Things".) To this day, "Naima" continues to be my favorite jazz ballad. As in many of his marvelous recordings, you can actually hear what he's saying - not through his horn, but from his soul. I highly recommend taking an afternoon or evening off, sitting back, relaxing with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and put on the Coltrane album "Ballads", and see what emotions are stirred. I don't think you'll be disappointed.