Help me understand John Coltrane .... seriously.

Erik, to understand many jazz musicians you have to start at their beginning and follow them through time as they evolve. The great ones keep searching and exploring and in many instances leave us behind. Later in his career Trane became influenced by eastern music which is abrasive to most of us westerners. I gave up after he left McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones behind. Wayne Shorter progressed in a way I can still follow and enjoy. Most of us want to enjoy music, not be challenged by it.
Henry Threadgill is an original. He bounces back and forth between incredible songs that really bring out a smile and music that leaves me totally flat. I have to have some sense of melody and or structure/rhythm to hold on to to keep me focused without either I am lost.
I have tried to listen to Coltrane's Ascension three or four times and I just do not get it. But, when you listen to him in his earlier days it was obvious that he was special. Listen to Sonny Rollin's Tenor Madness. Trane plays on that album. Compare the two. Rollin's is no slouch but you always know when you are listening to Trane he has a lyrical and rhythmical facility with the instrument that Rollins just can not match. Rollin's playing seems sort of clumsy in comparison.  

Well ,Its funny ,because  like everyone has said here there are many aspects  to jazz.Its not all the same so times you have to just listen,and take it in ,lol.I was like 19 and working in the old PO on the midnight  tour.I was into Rock, Beatles,Stones,Cream.and am rock ,lol.Well this PO was,in LIC ,the APO -NPO ,LIT .at night the guy who controlled the radio would only play JAZZ ,it drove me crazy.New Wave Jazz ,Free Form.I went up to the cage as we called it and asked the guy to change the station, his answer was NO.So I had to listen to it all night long and the place was empty  and it was loud.lol.After awhile ,I did learn to like it ....just listening, and it grew on me...But some of it did SUCK,lol....that was 48 years ago.....I like all kinds of music and give everything a chance....

I just wanted to say thanks so much to everyone who has lent an ear and suggested a good path to follow.

Despite what some may think, not all my posts are trolls. I am not contributing or replying to this right now because life has intervened and I'm not able to take up all the great suggestions here, but it looks like there's so much great material in this thread even if I can't take advantage of it just yet others will.

Thanks again!

Erik

Trane is an acquired taste. Don’t listen to him because others tell you he’s a genius. His later albums reflected the great physical pain he was in from his cancer. Very hard to listen to.

Have you listened to much jazz? There are so many great players to listen to before you’re ready for Trane. Here are some recommendations for jazz to listen to if you’re not a jazz player yourself and are just beginning to listen.

Anything by Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Check out this track from the late 70’s. The people who have played with the Messengers is a Who’s Who of modern jazz.
Early (before 1956) Miles Davis - "Miles and Horns"
Dexter Gordon
Phil Woods
Lester Young
Sonny Rollins
Charlie Parker
Sonny Stitt
Scott Hamilton
Woody Shaw

After you’ve listened to at least 3 full albums of each of these guys, THEN go back and listen to Trane playing Giant Steps and see if that makes better sense to you.

Tenor Madness