August 16, 2012
A Love Supreme
Here’s another installment of the interview Andrew did for Chris Grosso of theindiespiritualist.com, this time exploring some of the music he has found to be most influential:
Question: What are some of the musical albums or musicians/bands that have impacted your life and in what way?
Answer: Are You Experienced by Jimi Hendrix. To me the sheer improvisational genius, excitement, and freshness of Jimi Hendrix and his drummer Mitch Mitchell was incredibly inspiring and compelling. Their sound had a big influence on my musical development.
Swiss Movement by Eddie Harris & Les McCann. It really helped me to begin to learn how to hear the sound and soul of jazz. There’s a song on the album called “Compared to What” and the blues soulfulness with the jazz feeling in that tune moved me very deeply. I’ve listened to that song thousands of times.
In a Silent Way by Miles Davis also helped me to appreciate and hear the subtle depth and nuanced complexity of Jazz with greater appreciation than I ever had before. This record was one of the first to combine rock rhythms with jazz harmonies, giving rise to the jazz-fusion genre.
A Love Supreme by John Coltrane because of its spiritual depth, sheer majesty, and overwhelming beauty. Along with countless others, this timeless masterpiece moved me very deeply and continues to as much as ever today.
My favorite record of all time is Live-Evil by Miles Davis. There’s an explosive mix of Avant-garde free jazz, the screaming power of rock, down home blues, and extreme funk sensibilities. This all coming together in a swirling whirl of non-stop, creative improvisational intensity that turns me on eternally.
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Andrew Cohen is a spiritual teacher, cultural visionary, founder of EnlightenNext, and the author of 
Yes, Mr. Cohen and I are definitely on the same wave length musically since jazz is my preferred musical genre. I wholeheartedly agree with his selections that frequently appear on myriad jazz essentials lists
I would add Herbie Hancock’s “Butterfly” from the Thrust album. There’s something I find very soul-stirring and soul awakening in the way the harmonies build to an exciting crescendo.
My favorite trumpeter is, was and ever shall be, Freddie Hubbard, whose high notes could enter stratospheric realms at a moment’s notice. Interestingly was a member of Herbie’s quintet, that included Wayne Shorter (tenor), Ron Carter (bass), and Tony Williams (drums).
My favorite FH song is s “First Light,” a beautifully majestic composition evoking an awakening and a deep level.
Another favorite worth mentioning is the beautiful bittersweet ballad, “I Can’t Get Started” by the great alto sax magician, Julian Cannonball Adderley, from the album, “Nancy Wilson/Cannonball Adderley..
Yes!
I would add Ornette Coleman “Voice Poetry” and the Body Meta album in general. Also the amazing musicianship of Pharoah Sanders, Rahsaan Roland Kirk (I love “Primitive Ohio”) and Albert Ayler (I like “New York Eye and Ear Control” with Don Cherry and Gary Peacock and “Spiritual Unity” a classic).
I personnally discovered Sketch of Spain in my college years (Sixties) and will love it eternally, even better than the original pieces! Thank you, Andrew, for sharing and give me the chance to revisit one of my great favorite artists!
Incredible!!… I had saved this following quote for myself in my own archives since it was so inspiring!! This is how Andre Talley described his feelings on meeting Michelle Obama; Upon reading his experience it just wanted me to make me that bigger person. Thank you so much Andrew for this unexpected connection… with love… Margo
André Leon Talley, Vogue’s editor at large, wrote about the first lady in hagiographic terms. “She focuses all her calm attention on your face,” he beamed. “Being the focus of this reassuring gaze is akin to hearing a chord from John Coltrane’s ‘A Love Supreme.’ Or maybe Ralph Vaughan Williams’s ‘The Lark Ascending.’ All is well and right and real.”