Authors: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

39 John Coltrane Quotes That Prove His Mind Was As Fascinating As His Music

Famous As: One of the Most Influential Saxophonists in Music History
Born On: September 23, 1926
Died On: July 17, 1967
Born In: HaHamlet, North Carolina, United States
Died At Age: 40

John Coltrane was one of the most revolutionary jazz music composers of all time. In fact, many argue that he was the most gifted jazz player of his generation. In his 12 year music career, Trane was able to achieve more than any normal musician. His reputation later spread far and wide. Trane offers music lovers the kind of compositions that only a few can rival. After struggling for few years during the 1950s, Coltrane joined the band of Miles Davis Quint and together they produced many hits like ‘Round About Midnight’ and ‘The New Miles Davis Quint’. Alternately, Coltrane performed as a sideman along with Prestige and many other bands and came to be known as one most intelligent jazz music composers. Later in 1960s, Coltrane released his first album. In collaboration with Davis, he produced albums like ‘Kind of Blue’ and ‘Milestones’ which are considered as the classic example of modern jazz. Trane's music is both intelligent and articulate, and carries depth, spirituality and right emotions that satisfy music lovers at every level. It may come as a surprise to many that Trane had a great insight on so many things. He was definitely an intelligent man whose mind was as fascinating as his music as these insightful quotes prove. Read on these John Coltrane quotes to have a better understanding of 'Trane and his music.

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I start in the middle of a sentence and move both directions at once.

I start in the middle of a sentence and move both directions at once.

John Coltrane
My music is the spiritual expression of what I am - my faith, my knowledge, my being.

My music is the spiritual expression of what I am - my faith, my knowledge, my being.

John Coltrane
After all the investigation, all of the technique-doesn't matter! Only if the feeling is right.

After all the investigation, all of the technique-doesn't matter! Only if the feeling is right.

John Coltrane

I want to be a force for real good. In other words. I know that there are bad forces, forces that bring suffering to others and misery to the world, but I want to be the opposite force. I want to be the force which is truly for good.

John Coltrane
I'd like to point out to people the divine in a musical language that transcends words. I want to speak to their souls.

I'd like to point out to people the divine in a musical language that transcends words. I want to speak to their souls.

John Coltrane
I believe that men are here to grow themselves into best good that they can be - at least, this is what I want to do.

I believe that men are here to grow themselves into best good that they can be - at least, this is what I want to do.

John Coltrane
In the year of 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening, which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life.

In the year of 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening, which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life.

John Coltrane
All a musician can do is to get closer to the sources of nature, and so feel that he is in communion with the natural laws.

All a musician can do is to get closer to the sources of nature, and so feel that he is in communion with the natural laws.

John Coltrane
You can play a shoestring if you're sincere

You can play a shoestring if you're sincere

John Coltrane
When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hang-ups.

When you begin to see the possibilities of music, you desire to do something good for people, to help humanity free itself from its hang-ups.

John Coltrane
Any time you play your horn, it helps you. If you get down, you can help yourself even in a rock 'n' roll band.

Any time you play your horn, it helps you. If you get down, you can help yourself even in a rock 'n' roll band.

John Coltrane

Overall, I think the main thing a musician would like to do is give to the listener the many wonderful things he knows of and senses in the universe... That's what I would like to do. I think that's one of the greatest things you can do in life, and we all try to do that in some way. The musician's is through his music.

John Coltrane
I've been devoting quite a bit of my time to harmonic studies on my own, in libraries and places like that. I've found you've got to look back at the old things and see them in a new light.

I've been devoting quite a bit of my time to harmonic studies on my own, in libraries and places like that. I've found you've got to look back at the old things and see them in a new light.

John Coltrane
One positive thought produces millions of positive vibrations.

One positive thought produces millions of positive vibrations.

John Coltrane
My goal is to live the truly religious life and express it through my music. If you can live it, there's no problem about the music, because it's part of the whole thing.

My goal is to live the truly religious life and express it through my music. If you can live it, there's no problem about the music, because it's part of the whole thing.

John Coltrane
Lots of people imagine wrongly that 'My Favorite Things' is one of my compositions; I would have loved to have written it, but it's by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Lots of people imagine wrongly that 'My Favorite Things' is one of my compositions; I would have loved to have written it, but it's by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

John Coltrane
Don't ever get so big or important that you can not hear and listen to every other person.

Don't ever get so big or important that you can not hear and listen to every other person.

John Coltrane
The real risk is not
 changing. I have to feel that I'm after something. If I make money, fine. But
 I'd rather be striving. It's the striving, man, it's that I want.

The real risk is not changing. I have to feel that I'm after something. If I make money, fine. But I'd rather be striving. It's the striving, man, it's that I want.

John Coltrane
Invest yourself in everything you do. There's fun in being serious.

Invest yourself in everything you do. There's fun in being serious.

John Coltrane
God breathes through us so completely... so gently we hardly feel it... yet, it is our everything.

God breathes through us so completely... so gently we hardly feel it... yet, it is our everything.

John Coltrane
Favorite Things' is my favorite piece of all those I have recorded.

Favorite Things' is my favorite piece of all those I have recorded.

John Coltrane

I start from one point and go as far as possible. But, unfortunately, I never lose my way. I 'localize,' which is to say that I think always in a given space. I rarely think of the whole of a solo, and only very briefly. I always return to the small part of the solo that I was in the process of playing.

John Coltrane

I would like to bring to people something like happiness. I would like to discover a method so that if I want it to rain, it will start right away to rain. If one of my friends is ill, I'd like to play a certain song and he will be cured; when he'd be broke, I'd bring out a different song and immediately he'd receive all the money he needed.

John Coltrane
If you're bourgeois, money is it. It's all the questions and all the answers. Ain't no E-flat or color blue, only $12.98 or $1,000. If it isn't money, it isn't nothing.

If you're bourgeois, money is it. It's all the questions and all the answers. Ain't no E-flat or color blue, only $12.98 or $1,000. If it isn't money, it isn't nothing.

John Coltrane
All of the technique doesn't matter... only if the feeling is right.

All of the technique doesn't matter... only if the feeling is right.

John Coltrane
I think music is an instrument. It can create the initial thought patterns that can change the thinking of people.

I think music is an instrument. It can create the initial thought patterns that can change the thinking of people.

John Coltrane
From a technical viewpoint, I have certain things I'd like to present in my solos. To do this, I have to get the right material. It has to swing, and it has to be varied.

From a technical viewpoint, I have certain things I'd like to present in my solos. To do this, I have to get the right material. It has to swing, and it has to be varied.

John Coltrane

During the year 1957, I experienced, by the grace of God, a spiritual awakening which was to lead me to a richer, fuller, more productive life. At that time, in gratitude, I humbly asked to be given the means and privilege to make others happy through music. I feel this has been granted through His grace. ALL PRAISE TO GOD.

John Coltrane

There is never any end... There are always new sounds to imagine; new feelings to get at. And always, there is the need to keep purifying these feelings and sounds so that we can really see what we've discovered in its pure state.

John Coltrane
I never even thought about whether or not they understand what I'm doing . . . the emotional reaction is all that matters as long as there's some feeling of communication, it isn't necessary that it be understood.

I never even thought about whether or not they understand what I'm doing . . . the emotional reaction is all that matters as long as there's some feeling of communication, it isn't necessary that it be understood.

John Coltrane