John Coltrane: Offering – Live at Temple University

Offering: Live at Temple University
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Artist: John Coltrane
Genre: Jazz
Label: Resonance/Universal

Recorded in November 1966, just months before his untimely death, here is the fabled “late Coltrane” playing to a half-empty university hall in his adopted hometown of Philadelphia. Captured with a single microphone by the college radio station, this fascinating document from one of the 20th century’s key musical figures has only been available in fragmentary bootlegs. Finally, here is the whole performance in all its vaguely muffled glory. By this stage in his career, Coltrane’s music was so challenging that the hall was a little emptier when he finished, but those who stayed (among them the young Michael Brecker) witnessed the great tenor saxophonist in full flight, stretching beyond western tonality, beyond even music, calling forth all the angels of heaven. Completists take note; civilians take care. propermusic.com

Cormac Larkin

Cormac Larkin

Cormac Larkin, a contributor to The Irish Times, is a musician, writer and director