When asked to make a short list of the most influential figures in jazz, almost any jazz fan or musician would place John Coltrane near the top of the list. The power of his tone and the strength of his technical virtuosity impressed even the most sophisticated listener. The depth of his musical curiosity drove him to build new harmonic structures that challenged the world and then destroy them in order to find artistic freedom. The honesty of his improvisational statements exposed a man searching for spirituality whose mission outweighed commercial concerns. The scope of his influence remains so wide that almost any modern jazz musician would claim some Coltrane study.
Latin Jazz musicians may have a strong foundation in Cuba, Puerto Rico, or Brazil, but their jazz roots share the same common exposure to Coltrane. While studying harmony and jazz history, Latin Jazz musicians undeniably run into Coltranes music and recordings. His work didnt share the same rhythmic basis as Latin Jazz, but the power of his music is universal. Many Latin Jazz musicians arrived in their careers with Coltranes sound resonating in their heads, which eventually led them to record his compositions. This places Coltranes legacy in a completely new light, providing unique perspectives of classic material.
Ive chosen ten examples of Latin Jazz artists performing Coltranes compositions, with each musician placing their unique slant upon the song. The diversity of the tracks is stunning, but the Trane influence peers through each song, bringing outstanding musicianship to the forefront. The Coltrane influence reaches to very corner of the Latin Jazz world, and Ive tried to reflect this in the list. Ive varied the list by including examples of Coltrane adaptations using Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Afro-Peruvian, and Argentinean rhythms. Take a few minutes to check out these tracks, youll be amazed at the breadth of Coltranes influence in the Latin Jazz world.
Latin Jazz musicians may have a strong foundation in Cuba, Puerto Rico, or Brazil, but their jazz roots share the same common exposure to Coltrane. While studying harmony and jazz history, Latin Jazz musicians undeniably run into Coltranes music and recordings. His work didnt share the same rhythmic basis as Latin Jazz, but the power of his music is universal. Many Latin Jazz musicians arrived in their careers with Coltranes sound resonating in their heads, which eventually led them to record his compositions. This places Coltranes legacy in a completely new light, providing unique perspectives of classic material.
Ive chosen ten examples of Latin Jazz artists performing Coltranes compositions, with each musician placing their unique slant upon the song. The diversity of the tracks is stunning, but the Trane influence peers through each song, bringing outstanding musicianship to the forefront. The Coltrane influence reaches to very corner of the Latin Jazz world, and Ive tried to reflect this in the list. Ive varied the list by including examples of Coltrane adaptations using Afro-Cuban, Brazilian, Afro-Peruvian, and Argentinean rhythms. Take a few minutes to check out these tracks, youll be amazed at the breadth of Coltranes influence in the Latin Jazz world.
