Help me understand John Coltrane .... seriously.

erik_squires,

"Also, don't make this weird."

No worries, I took your advice literally.

Another vote for "My Favorite Things" and "Naima". 

Hi Eric,
Maybe it’s not about getting Coltrane but you simply don’t like trumpet sound.
This is the case with me. I love piano or acoustic guitar a lot more than trumpet.
I could listen to Bill Evans, Stan Gets or Joao Jilberto all the time but only once in a while listen to Miles or Coltrane.
Emil

Let me correct myself.
maybe you don’t like saxophone in case of Coltrane.
Emil

I went to see Tool this week. In the row in front of me was a guy who wanted to head-bang...he had his hair long on top with the sides shaved. Tool started playing...but the complex time signature was too much for this gentleman to get his rhythm. He didn’t “get” it. He was a 4/4 kind of guy. Tool is a 5/4,6/4 kind of band. But the guy thoroughly enjoyed it!

To me, jazz can often be just like that...the musicians...often heavily influenced by “enhancers”...came up with really cutting edge, avant-garde stuff that either “scratches an itch” you didn’t know you had, or you listen and go “what the...?”.

At a minimum, listen to “ Giant Steps” after watching some videos on Coltrane and the Circle of Fifths. You may or may not care for it, but the genius and complexity behind it is really intriguing.

I find that sometimes I really “get into” stuff as my brain starts to understand it. I’ve been on a hard-bop kick lately spinning Pepper Adams and Nick Brignola on bari Sax.

I’m sure others will have more recommendations. I’d say listen to a bunch...if it clicks for you - awesome! If not - don’t force it and move along...there’s plenty of good stuff out there.

https://youtu.be/2kotK9FNEYU