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“I have seen God – I have seen ungodly – none can be greater – none can compare to God.“ John Coltrane composed these words in December 1964, as part of a poem he called 'A Love Supreme.' He included the poem in the inside gatefold of an album by the same name, released the following year. That same year, a young couple in San Francisco heard Coltrane in concert, sharing a jolt of higher purpose when he seemed to fix them in his sights with the bell of his saxophone. That couple, Franzo and Marina King, went on to establish a church devoted to Coltrane and his spiritual message, incorporating 'A Love Supreme' as their chief liturgical text. Their house of worship — known today as the St. John Will-I-Am Coltrane African Orthodox Church — has survived decades of change in a gentrifying city, while making a few notable revisions to its charter. In this 20-minute documentary short, Jazz Night in America pays a visit to the Coltrane Church, thoughtfully tracing its winding history — including a tumultuous period when Alice Coltrane, John's widow, bestowed and then revoked her support. We'll delve into the spiritual mysteries of 'A Love Supreme,' from “Acknowledgment“ to “Psalm,“ and consider what it means to be of service — to a calling, to a community, and to the music that sparked it all. - NATE CHINEN - Read more about the church’s backstory here: MUSIC CREDITS “A Love Supreme, Pt. I – Acknowledgement” / Performed by John Coltrane / Courtesy of The Verve Music Group under license from Universal Music Enterprises “A Love Supreme, Pt. II – Resolution” / Performed by John Coltrane / Courtesy of The Verve Music Group under license from Universal Music Enterprises “A Love Supreme, Pt. III – Pursuance” / Performed by John Coltrane / Courtesy of The Verve Music Group under license from Universal Music Enterprises “A Love Supreme, Pt. IV – Psalm” / Performed by John Coltrane / Courtesy of The Verve Music Group under license from Universal Music Enterprises “India” / Performed by John Coltrane / Courtesy of The Verve Music Group under license from Universal Music Enterprises “Russian Lullaby” / Performed by John Coltrane / Written by Irving Berlin / Published by Irving Berlin Music Company (ASCAP) / Administered by Williamson Music Company (ASCAP) “My Favorite Things” / Performed by Alice Coltrane / Written by Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II (ASCAP) / c/o Concord Music Publishing ————————————————————— FOLLOW US! Facebook: Twitter: Instagram:
