USA: MIKKI AND RAVI COLTRANE TALK ABOUT THEIR FATHER JAZZ LEGEND JOHN COLTRANE

Record ID: 390202

  • Title: USA: MIKKI AND RAVI COLTRANE TALK ABOUT THEIR FATHER JAZZ LEGEND JOHN COLTRANE
  • Date: 9th October 2000
  • Summary: SCU SOUNDBITE (English) RAVI SAYING: "You know he was working in these R+B bands, but when he started working with Miles, Miles had two recording contracts...He (Coltrane) made records continually until he died...there were four or five different labels where he was either a leader or a sideman, so there's so much different stuff...they're constantly finding things." SCU M
  • Embargoed: 24th October 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, US & VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA4WCRNEAGPKHNFEF4P1H0NU9DO
  • Story Text: With a name like Coltrane, there are bound to be certain expectations made by music music fans, just as if your last name were Lennon. John Coltrane's children are now adults and pursuing their own musical interests. Mikki and Ravi Coltrane recently shared their thoughts on their father's music and the ways they are furthering his musical legacy.
    Mikki and Ravi Coltrane are living proof of the genius of their father, legendary jazz saxophonist, John Coltrane.
    Along with brother Oranion, the Coltrane siblings are exploring their own place in the aural universe while deftly side-stepping the expectations of fans and critics alike.
    Just as John Coltrane upset the balance and blazed a trail in the jazz world, his children are finding their own way, discovering individual musical expressions.
    Mikki has tried her hand at singing and composing, Oranion plays several instruments, while the lion's share of the attention has gone to tenor saxophonist Ravi, the son John never really got to know.
    "I have a kinda of a two tiered system kinda thinking about him and relating with him in my mind...I have this father father figure that I didn't know but do feel a connection to," explains Ravi.
    "My mother made sure we always knew what kind of man he was and all...then there's John Coltrane. I'm a musician that admires this man and the music he made, just like I admire Charlie Parker or Igor Stravinsky."
    Brother and sister shared some of the more humorous attempts made by others to search for their father in them, likening the experience a similar to having Lennon as a surname.
    "There's a lot of things that happen, you'll have to bear with me because I haven't had as much as Ravi, I don't play tenor saxophone...," says Mikki.
    "But I would go to the local jam session and at some of these gigs the guys would say "special guest, stick around!".
    I'm like I'm just trying to do my thing..."
    Which is pretty hard to do when you're a "Coltrane".
    Though John died in 1967 after rising to prominence with the Miles Davis quintet in the mid-1950s, he was until his death the dominant tenor and soprano saxophonist of the jazz avant-garde.
    He recorded constantly, leaving many alternate versions and solos, offering full proof of his sumptuous playing style for labels to use in various catalogue offerings.
    This summer Rhino Records re-released four landmark albums, "Coltrane Jazz", "The Avant Garde", "Coltrane Plays The Blues", and "Ole Coltrane", marking their contribution to the plethora of catalogue label releases generated by Coltrane's playing. Although the sound and packaging of these original Atlantic recordings are sure to meet the fans' standards and are generally received with open arms by jazz diehards, Ravi sometimes feels like the labels know and take advantage of what they have: a veritable "gold mine".
    "You know he was working in these R+B bands, but when he started working with Miles, Miles had two recording contracts...He (Coltrane) made records continually until he died..." says Ravi.
    "There were four or five different labels where he was either a leader or a sideman, so there's so much different stuff...they're constantly finding things."
    So as the siblings find themselves, fans of their father's music find them while discovering the legend that is John Coltrane. While it could be said that this constant rememder of dad's music obscures the efforts of her brothers and herself, Mikki sees no cause for consternation. She counts herself among the number of fans who want to hear the alternative takes and listen to every little sound made in the recording studio.
    "A lot of people are interested in hearing the alternate takes, but the solos are going to be different, so a lot of people are interested in hearing these," adds Mikki.
    "They probably did leave in some crunches or talking, but for the most part it's that take they didn't use which is just as good as the one they released."
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