“Journey In Satchidananda” by Alice Coltrane
70s week continues with the ultimate expression of cosmic spirituality.
Programming note: This week, I'm spotlighting some of my favorite records released between 1970 and 1979. I've selected albums that cover multiple genres and deliberately avoided the well-worn titles that top all "best of" lists for this decade. In other words, this week's theme isn't an excuse to restate tired talking points on the likes of Dark Side of the Moon and Rumors.
Hope you enjoy it!
Hello! 😊👋
Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!
Today’s 70s music pick is a transformational spiritual jazz experience bolstered by incomparable chemistry from two free jazz legends.
Genre: Jazz, Experimental, Avant-Garde
Label: Impulse
Release Date: February 20, 1971
Vibe: 🪷
There is no record that epitomizes cosmic jazz more than Journey In Satchidananda. It surrounds you, speaks to you, and, at key moments, reaches inside your body and soul and penetrates deep into your consciousness. Because it wields such an intense power, it’s difficult to categorize it sonically. It’s free, avant-garde jazz, more interested in the improvisational interplay between its considerable talents than it is in conforming to your expectations. It’s spiritual in a global sense, incorporating styles, techniques, and lore from Indian and African traditions, to name just a couple. But, despite its density and complexity, it’s also incredibly accessible. Like A Love Supreme, the most spiritual of the late John Coltrane’s discography, it invites you in and lifts you up instead of keeping you at arm’s length.
Because this record is best experienced knowing as little as possible about its individual pieces, I won’t spoil anything here, except to say it’s also an eye-popping showcase for Pharoah Sanders’ work on soprano saxophone. His chemistry with the rest of the players, especially Alice’s piano and harp playing, is simply otherworldly. I recently recommended this album to a friend who’d never interfaced with Alice Coltrane’s output, nor any release I’d consider free jazz or cosmic jazz. My advice to him was simple: Reserve 45 minutes in your day where you won’t be disturbed, set yourself up with the best-quality headphones and version (streaming or physical) of Journey you can find, and lie on the floor, head facing the ceiling, palms folded one on top of the other cushioning the back of your head. Close your eyes, hit play, and remember to exhale.
It’s what I recommend you do too.
👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈