John Coltrane
Stellar Regions

THE REVIEW

For a journey into space, all you need is about twenty euros, even less if you find "Stellar Region" on sale.

The driver of the vehicle that will take you to the most remote points of the universe is John Coltrane. You just need to close your eyes, and when the sax begins to contort, bending over itself due to Trane's screams, you'll already be outside the Earth's atmosphere.
However, beware, you need to be ready for this incredible journey, some might fear finding themselves before the Infinite; others might not appreciate its vastness. In truth, very few are prepared for this experience: only those who have great love for this artist and his music will be able to enjoy his art.

Many wonder why Coltrane, a musician with such technique, who has won critical and public acclaim, would start playing music that is so complicated and hard to listen to. Trane could have easily, from '64 onwards, played pleasant ballads or teamed up with popular figures without being overshadowed, as he had already done in the past on albums like Ballads, John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman.
Those who ask this question have never listened attentively to this artist.

John Coltrane didn't play for money or success, he needed to play, it was his strongest drug, he couldn't help but explore all forms of sound and wander through the infinite possibilities of combining the twelve notes we have. He was a spiritual person, felt the need to elevate himself, to ascend. This need led him to have to refuse collaborations with musicians of the caliber of McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones, led him to lose a significant portion of his audience, and, of course, engagements and fame also drastically decreased.

I understand him, looking at the stars up close is wonderful.

And so did Gimmy Garrison, who never left his master alone in his races towards the transcendent; he, too, would pay dearly for this choice: some people probably don't even know he's dead. The light of Trane's genius also struck Rashed Alì, who would earn the definition from the leader of "favorite drummer." Then there were those who even chose to marry him and take his name, we're talking about a great woman: Alice Coltrane.

The band members are kindred spirits, all love to let the music flow without trying to lock it into stupid measures. They are very in tune with each other, you can feel it, it's as if they all contribute to playing one great, perfect musical instrument; an instrument that manages to reach the peak of expressiveness, that manages to indelibly imprint the listener's soul.

In disbelief, you will hear the harshest and sweetest sounds (Tranesonic, Jimmy's Mode), the intensity and depth of tracks like Seraphic Light, Sun Star and Offering (which in its first notes seems to recall the intro of "A Love Supreme") will open new horizons for you, you'll feel the percussive magma of Confuration and reach the point of maximum elevation and inner peace with the beautiful Stellar Regions.

If you have the record in your hands, it means you are ready to look upward and not be dazzled by the same light that John Coltrane was already observing with wide-open eyes back in 1967.

Oh, I almost forgot, have a good journey among the stars.