Celebrating John Coltrane with Cultural Documentarian Steve Rowland

Born in wisdom and a legacy of social justice, he continues to serve others to help bring enlightenment and kindness. Any jazz or blues musician who reaches your soul empties out his or her understanding of the history of African Americans in this country and brings it to the audience to interpret. The great musicians do this. And when you hear it, even if you are not sure exactly what you are listening to, you know enough to be unsettled by the love, the pain, the courage, and the journey. This is indeed living a Coltranian life. Listen to John Coltrane's Alabama today, and see how it resonates and informs each cell of your body, heart, and soul. In fact, you can watch this clip from Steve's Tell Me How Long with Martin Luther King's eulogy for the 4 girls murdered in Birmingham in 1963, overlaid on top of Coltrane's overwhelmingly moving musical statement.

Reflection

And so it is, we are all connected. We are that. The vibrations of the universe are calling upon us to see the light...to rise. You who are out there in this world playing your instruments, composing your songs, living artfully in any way while marching to the beat of love in a world of sorrow bring the hope. If the hearts can change, the culture will change... we pray.

This is the Coltranian journey we can choose to find ourselves on in the service of others, in our obligation to bringing forth the best of who we are individually and as a community. Why do human beings suffer? Is there any escape? How can we be a force to bring enlightenment to help ease or end pain with love? Transcending the hardships of life is a common thread in the lives of these human beings highlighted here, who bring out the divine magnificence in what it means to be human. In their stories we see hope, we see the responsibility we all can take on, and we see that each person can choose to live in a state of Grace focusing on vibrations in the air that tie us all together on the earth. "John Coltrane, Martin Luther King, Jr, Malcolm X, Bob Marley Cornel West, are all speaking truth to us—and we need to listen and come together to celebrate all lives—and those 'colorless flames'—that are at the essence of each person's soul," Steve stated.

John Coltrane's spiritual flame continues to burn brightly with his soothing prayer, "May there be peace, love, and perfection throughout all of creation," embracing all of us who believe in A Love Supreme.