Search - John Coltrane :: Om

Trane's swan song

cvairag | Allan Hancock College | 09/21/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"back in early 1969 - this was my favorite jazz album (such things then extant). Today I think of "OM" as a great summit in the project that started with "A Love Supreme" and continues to this day with the Coltrane family's latest release, "Translinear Light". The Chant is without question the best part. And the playing? Like Ramakrishna's salt doll who went to measure the depth of the ocean - we cannot bring back a report. I AM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM OM . . . on every wave . . . note . . . perfection"

Give it a chance...

finulanu | Here, there, and everywhere | 04/27/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Very underrated example of Coltrane's talent. So many people detest it, even people who like Ascension. In a sense, I understand why. This is even weirder than Ascension or Sun Ship. It's been rumored that Trane was on an acid trip when he recorded this, and while I'm as drug-free as they come (I've seriously never even had a cigarette), it's pretty clear to me that Trane was in a seriously altered state when he recorded it. I've got this image of the recording sessions in my mind. You've got McCoy, Jimmy, Elvin, Pharaoh, flautist Joe Brazil, and bass clarinetist Donald Garrett sitting in the studio. Trane walks in from the kitchen somehow conjoined with the studio holding a tray of brownies (with LSD in them!), and places the tray on the Indian rug in the center of the room. Everyone eats way more than they should, meditates, and reads the Ramayana (or Siddhartha, either will do). Then they call in the producer and give him an acid brownie. He starts the recording equipment up while everyone in the room goes off on this ugly, ugly, rambling, ponderous tangent on the amazing powers of Om that might rival "I AM IRON MAN!" in terms of sheer ridiculousness (indeed, compare "I AM IRON MAN!" to "I AM OM!"). Then they start playing, and they more than make up for that awful start. It's, in an odd way, a very beautiful album. Chaos, but magnificent chaos. It's like finding yourself, coming into your own, even discovering your soul, so to speak, during turbulent times. Imagine finding your brief moment of inner peace on a battlefield. If that isn't your idea of good music, stay away. I, for one, hated it the first time I heard it. The unsung heroes of the session are Garrett, whose bass clarinet adds ghostly underpinnings; and Joe Brazil, whose flute adds to the odd beauty of this album. Oh, and like Ascension it's one continuous half-hour piece of music, now uninterrupted. Like Ascension, it's not everyone's idea of a good time, but like Ascension, this is not music that will leave you cold. I guarantee it will provoke some sort of very strong emotion in you, whether it's strong love or strong hatred."

Incredible !!!

Slaninka Frantisek | Bratislava Slovakia | 08/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For me this album is one of the most illusory albums ever.

AMG critic gives only 2 stars, but it is great for me.

OM is first title (followed by glorious Kulu se mama or album Meditations) with new marvellous style (rough saxophones with Sanders, perfect and free drums and piano). Nobody plays something similar before OM.

Be enough to listen it a few times in life, but you know that you listen some great."