Jazz musician Alice Coltrane dead at 69 (John Coltrane's wife)

[Dover]

Sun Jan 14, 5:03 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (AFP) - Alice Coltrane, the jazz musician who was closely linked with the music of her late husband, legendary US saxophonist John Coltrane, has died at the age of 69, a newspaper reported.

Citing a spokesman for the family, The Los Angeles Times newspaper said Coltrane died Friday at West Hills Hospital and Medical Center in West Hills of respiratory failure.

She had been in frail health for some time.

Though known for her contributions to jazz and early New Age music, Coltrane, a convert to Hinduism, was also a significant spiritual leader and founded the Vedantic Center, a spiritual commune now located in the Los Angeles area, the paper said.

For much of the last nearly 40 years, Alice Coltrane was also the keeper of her husband's musical legacy, managing his archive and estate.

Her husband, one of the pivotal figures in the history of jazz, died of liver disease on July 17, 1967, at the age of 40....cont'd

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070114/ts_alt_afp/afpentertainmentus


Have a listen:
From her Ptah, The El Daoud CD, titled Turiya And Ramakrishna
http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000003N8S001002/105-8201189-0419625

From her Journey In Satchidananda CD, titled, Something About John Coltrane
http://www.amazon.com/gp/music/wma-pop-up/B000003N9Y001004/105-8201189-0419625

[quiet.american]

1. I once accidentally discovered one of her tapes and it blew my mind.

Thanks for posting the link to her music on Amazon.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

2. Rest in Peace, Alice Coltrane.

[Ken Burch]

3. I wonder if they'll do a memorial mass for her

at the Church of St. John Coltrane in San Francisco.

For those who don't know, it's a real African Orthodox parish that bases it's liturgy on Coltrane's
"A Love Supreme".

[Starbucks Anarchist]

5. I've heard of it.

I'd definitely want to visit if I'm ever out there.

[NNadir]

4. She died, and they posted her husband's picture in the article.

They don't have her picture.

That's more than a little bizarre.

John Coltrane was a great man, but an obituary should, if it shows someone, show the dead person.

[Dover]

7. I AGREE! Thought the same thing...fortunately someone posted a pic (above)n/t

[Dover]

9. Here are a couple more pictures from her CDs and some music samples

These music samples are from this CD, Tranlinear Light, which also features her two sons, Ravi (tenor) and Oran (alto).

http://www.amazon.com/gp/recsradio/radio/B0002SLWZM/ref=pd_krex_dp_a/105-8201189-0419625

[NNadir]

10. Thanks. I knew what she looked like, but my point was about the journalists.

With all due respect to her husband, her death is about her.

[Kajsa]

6. Thanks for the link to her music.

She was very talented and innovative.

Rest in Peace, Alice.

[MuseRider]

8. RIP Alice.

Right after losing Michael Brecker. Not a good week.

[toddaa]

11. Makes me wonder about the threes

First Michael, then Alice. Ugh, I can't bear it.

[MuseRider]

12. Yup, who is next?

My son called me from New York yesterday and told me about Brecker. That was a killer even though he had been sick and it was not entirely unexpected.

[Dover]

13. Link to the YouTube video now posted in the DU video forum >

Strings Of Coltrane voyage 2 satchidananda (Alice Coltrane)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x12661

[anitar1]

14. She was truly a beautiful, spiritual person.

I had the privilege of spending a short time at her Center in the San Fernando Valley.She led meditations and provided her music. It was an amazing experience for me. I will never forget her. RIP, dear lady.

[Laughing Mirror]

15. Alice is a gift of the gods

NY Times headline says jazz artist and spiritual leader.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/15/arts/music/15colt.html

[harpboy_ak]

16. She played beautiful harp

As in concert harp, not harmonica. My favorite album of hers is "Blue Nile", which featured Phaoroh Sanders and Carlos Santana. It's right up there with her husband's "A Love Supreme".

Angelic harp, celestial music.

[alfredo]

17. She was so good. She is the one that turned me

on to the harp with her "Ptah, The El Daoud"

Come back as a sunny day.