A

Love

Supreme

one of the greatest achievements in jazz history

A Love Supreme, John Coltrane’s masterwork from 1964, was composed in the upstairs room of the Dix Hills home shortly after the family’s relocation from Queens to Long Island. The Coltranes moved to the suburban town in part to seek refuge from the city with their demanding rehearsal and performance regiments, but life at home with young children and busy lives left no shortage of activity.

The practice space upstairs provided John with a tranquil environment for “pondering the music he heard within himself” as his wife Alice recalled. She described John coming downstairs after days of intense work on the composition as being “like Moses coming down from the mountain, it was so beautiful. He walked down and there was that joy, that peace in his face.” He recorded A Love Supreme on December 9th 1964 with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood, New Jersey. The album is recognized as one of the greatest achievements in jazz history.

I want to be a force for good

John Coltrane

The Music is in your heart, your soul, your spirit

Alice Coltrane