‘Alice Coltrane – The Carnegie Hall Concert’ Set For First-Time Release
A previously unavailable 1971 Carnegie Hall concert is set to be released for the first time via Verve Records.
Verve Records is known for unearthing and reissuing music from some of the 20th century’s greatest artists, and in 2024 they’ve partnered with The John & Alice Coltrane Home to launch the “Year of Alice;” described as a “year-long celebration of Alice Coltrane’s profound work.” They’re kicking things off with Alice Coltrane – The Carnegie Hall Concert, a previously unavailable recording of Coltrane’s 1971 performance at Carnegie Hall benefiting the Integral Yoga Institute. The record will be released on March 22nd and is available for pre-order now.
Order Alice Coltrane’s The Carnegie Hall Concert now.
The album’s first track, the live performance of “Shiva-Loka,” is out now; accompanied by a new, colorful visualizer on YouTube. “Shiva-Loka” was originally released on Coltrane’s fourth solo album, Journey in Satchidananda, released a year before the Carnegie Hall show. As Verve notes, the concert arrived at a pivotal moment in both Coltrane’s career and her spiritual journey: she had just released Satchidananda and had deepened her spiritual quest over a five-week trip to India.
The concert featured Satchidananda collaborators Kumar Kramer and Tulsi Reynolds, playing harmonium and tamboura, respectively, alongside a large jazz ensemble comprising two saxophonists (Pharoah Sanders and Archie Shepp), two bassists (Jimmy Garrison and Cecil McBee) and two drummers (Ed Blackwell and Clifford Jarvis.) Alongside her band, Alice performed a set including two transcendental tracks from Journey in Satchidananda, including “Shiva-Loka,” followed by two compositions by her late husband John Coltrane.
Ahead of the release of The Carnegie Hall Concert, there will be a special night of performers and speakers that include Ravi Coltrane, Michelle Coltrane, Brandee Younger, and more at the legendary Birdland, the NYC jazz club, on February 22.
