John Coltrane 09/15/57

Today is the anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth in Hamlet, NC on September 23, 1926. This year, the autumnal equinox coincides with his birthday, as it did the year he was born, according to one source. Coltrane’s composition “Equinox” was released 40 years ago, in June 1964, on the album Coltrane’s Sound (recorded in 1960). It was the first Coltrane tune I heard and remains one of my favorites.

Reviewer David Brent Johnson says of “Equinox” – “It has a subtle but smoldering power, and heard from the perspective of many years later, it sounds like a musical announcement: The arrival of the Classic Coltrane Quartet is imminent. Pianist McCoy Tyner and drummer Elvin Jones were already on board for this session; bassist Jimmy Garrison would join the group more than a year later.”

Here is “Equinox” on Coltrane’s 88th birthday (d.1967).