John Coltrane, 100 years since his birth: Rai's tribute on radio and TV, and other events

To mark the centenary of the birth of John Coltrane (Hamlet, North Carolina, September 23, 1926), Rai Radio3 is dedicating a special evening to one of the most influential jazz musicians of the twentieth century. On Wednesday, September 23, at 8.30pm, the station will air an exclusive broadcast of "Out of Coltrane", a tribute recorded as part of the Sardinian festival "Musica sulle Bocche". The project starts from Coltrane's spiritual, modal and avant-garde universe to reread his legacy through the language of contemporary jazz. On the stage of Lo Quarter in Alghero, saxophonist Enzo Favata brought together a genuine all-star lineup of Italian jazz, uniting musicians from different generations and backgrounds. The ensemble includes Pasquale Mirra on vibraphone and percussion, Alfonso Santimone on piano and keyboards, a horn section made up of Riccardo Pittau, Filippo Orefice and Federico Pierantoni, Salvatore Maltana on double bass, and Alessandro Cau on drums and percussion. A large lineup, called upon to engage with Coltrane's teachings without simply re-reading his repertoire, but instead striving to project his spirit into a contemporary sonic dimension.

The celebrations will continue at 11 pm as part of “Radio3 Suite” with “Around Coltrane,” a round-table discussion moderated by Valerio Corzani. Discussing the saxophonist's figure and legacy will be Roberto Ottaviano, Claudio Fasoli and Emanuele Cisi, three leading figures of Italian jazz. The program will alternate between discussion and listening sessions to retrace Coltrane's work and influence.

Also still available on RaiPlay Sound and RaiPlay is "Equinox – John Coltrane e gli altri mondi", the special broadcast aired last April 30 for International Jazz Day. On that occasion, a quintet led by Gabriele Coen and Michael Rosen turned Coltrane's music into the soundtrack for a science-fiction story written by Valerio Corzani: a psychedelic journey in which the narrative intertwined with the compositions and sonic suggestions of the great American saxophonist.

Mezzo Tv's special tribute

Mezzo TV is also paying tribute to one of the giants of jazz history with a special program that, from September 17 to October 1, weaves together valuable archival footage, historic concerts and reinterpretations entrusted to some of the leading figures of the contemporary scene. The channel is available on tivùsat at number 49. The heart of the programming falls on Wednesday, September 23, the exact date of Coltrane's centenary. At 8.30pm Mezzo TV will broadcast the premiere of "Collier Plays Coltrane, Isaiah Collier & The Chosen Few", followed at 9.30pm by "John Coltrane, Live in Comblain-la-Tour Jazz Festival".
The special will close on Thursday, October 1 with two further broadcasts. At 8.30pm the premiere of "Emile Parisien Quartet, Tribute to John Coltrane" will air, while at 10.00pm, again as a premiere, comes "James Carter Trane, A Centennial Supreme, Jazz in Marciac".
The season thus builds a bridge between the live testimonies left by Coltrane and the interpretations of later generations, documenting the persistence of a legacy that continues to leave a deep mark on contemporary jazz: from timbral exploration to the freedom of improvisation, all the way to the spiritual tension that turned the American saxophonist into one of the most influential figures in twentieth-century music.

The record release

For the centenary of the birth of Miles Davis and John Coltrane, one of the most imposing documents dedicated to the meeting of the two jazz giants returns to the market. From November 6, Columbia Records and Legacy Recordings are reissuing "Miles Davis & John Coltrane – The Complete Columbia Recordings 1955-1961", the historic box set collecting the recordings the two made together between 1955 and 1961, out of print for over 25 years.
The box will be available in 9LP and 6CD editions and traces the crucial years of the collaboration between Davis and Coltrane, a period that would help permanently change the language of modern jazz. Alongside the complete box set, "The Best Of Miles Davis & John Coltrane (1955-1961)" will also arrive on vinyl for the first time, a double LP selecting some of the most representative recordings drawn from landmark albums such as "'Round About Midnight", "Milestones", "Someday My Prince Will Come" and "Kind Of Blue".

Ride the wave of great music

Add OndaRock to your favorite sources on Google Discover. Don't miss our reviews, milestones and latest news straight in your feed.

Follow on Google