Monday, June 8, 2009

AOJ/NC Musician #9...John Coltrane



John William Coltrane
1926 - 1967
American Saxophonist
Born in Hamlet, NC

oil on panel
22" x 30"

What can I say that hasn't already been exhaustively covered about this Giant Step? Opened the 4th Dimension in Free Jazz? First name that comes to people's minds when they think of the tenor saxophone? Wrote A Love Supreme? Brought Elvin Jones into the spotlight? These are all minor feats compared to the guy's total achievements but all important things nonetheless*.

I went to Hamlet once to paint a mural in the Mental Health ward of the Sandhills Regional hospital. That was a hoot. And by "hoot" I mean TOTALLY INSANE. I did meet a fantastic Lumbee Indian in there who was super sweet. Unfortunately he had tried to commit suicide 3 times and was convinced he would probably do it again. As was policy, he could only stay in there for 2 days. He told me he was a painter and that he'd been thinking of doing more work. I told his wife to contact me when he got out and maybe I could help find him some work. I never heard from them.

As you might imagine, Hamlet is a tiny tiny town with a pretty sore economy. I did drive past Coltrane's house though. And the Rockingham Speedway which is like a colossal ghost town. Pretty eerie seeing something that big completely desolate.

(*As is becoming commonplace here I don't delve to deep into any of these people's histories/time lines. That's what that little box in the top right hand of your screen is for.)