Living in an era of Coltrane and Sanders

Pharoah Sanders und William Henderson, Altes Pfandhaus Köln, 7. Februar 2008 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

It is hard to image the kind of creativity that existed when I was growing up until you look back at the first albums I bought through the record club were John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Ray Charles. My 45 collection was Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, the Temptations, the Four Tops and Martha and the Vandellas. It was an era of poetry and so I wrote and performed with a group of aspiring poets with funds provided by anti-poverty programs. It was an era of segregation, war, rioting and the beginning of what we called black power. Black people expanded from the narrow confines to what had previously been all white neighborhoods. Last night I fell asleep listening to Pharoah Sanders on You tube.

 

Sanders and Coltrane  were deeply spiritual people although that was not what drew me to their music. They were pushing the definitions of music far beyond what had previously existed and they were very distinct. When I left home  I looked for people who communicated and understood the same as me. It is not out of nostalgia that I am writing, because through technology I have been able to rediscover these giants. I said The Creator Has a Master Plan to a young co-worker last week and she thought I was speaking literally. I reassured that I was not. Yesterday for a brief time at the hospital I spoke with young people on the ward about Little Wayne and Chrisette Michele. The first Little Wayne I heard shocked and disgusted me so I turned it off. But then we found something about learning to love. And then I played a couple of forevers which I had heard on the radio. And briefly our barriers came down.

 

That is the power of music. Coltrane is long dead but his music is still out there. His wife, Alice, also died, But her music remains. And new music is being made every day. Some of it needs to be turned off right away, but I know my mother felt like turning off some of my music when I was growing up. I am looking forward to these next stages of my life and responding to whatever challenges I encounter.

 

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Fulfillingness’ First Finale

Fulfillingness’ First Finale was a landmark album by Stevie Wonder released in 1974. I bought it as soon as it came out and played it as often and as long as I could. It is a standard of excellence against which one can measure an artist’s body of work. Tonight I am thinking about making this year my Fulfillingness’ First Finale. It needs to be a departure from all previous years and mark the point in my life where things I had hoped for began to be realized. This is a production by a mature performer who is at the peak of his powers. One that stand up as the years go on and have its songs played over and over again.

 

When I saw the title included the words First Finale I expected Stevie would follow with another. I am not certain whether that is what I expect of myself. After this year, i intend to go on and reach another new height.

 

This is my challenge for those seeking wellness and exultation. Think of this year as an album by your favorite performer. What is the title and why would you choose this album at this point in your life. I cam of age at the same time as Wonder and we share the same horoscope sign. Even though I don’t follow horoscopes as much as I used to. Many of his songs struck a chord with me. I also wished I could have done my hair like his and I believe his the best composer/singer of his era. So those are my reasons for choosing Fulfillingness’ First Finale by Stevie Wonder.

 

Stevie Wonder at a rehearsal for the Grammy Awards (Photo credit: Wikipedia)