John Coltrane left an indelible mark on the world, but what was the essence of his achievement that makes him so prized forty years after his death? What were the factors that helped Coltrane become who he was? And what would a John Coltrane look like now--or are we looking for the wrong signs?In this deftly written, riveting study, New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff answers these questions and examines the life of Coltrane, the acclaimed band leader and deeply spiritual man who changed the face of jazz music. Ratliff places jazz among other art forms and within the turbulence of American social history, and he places Coltrane not just among jazz musicians but among the greatest American artists.

Coltrane: The Story of a Sound by Ben Ratliff (2007-10-18)

Biographies & Memoirs

Ben Ratliff

Arts & Literature

Faber and Faber

No other jazz musician has proved so inspirational and so fascinating as Coltrane. Ben Ratliff, jazz critic for the "New York Times", has written the first book to do justice to this great and controversial music pioneer. As well as an elegant narrative of Coltrane's life Ratliff does something incredibly valuable - he writes about the saxophonist's unique sound.

Coltrane: The Story of a Sound

Faber&Faber

<p>Music &amp; Literature Issue 8 (2017)</p>

Music & Literature no. 8

ALEX ROSS

Mark Turner

Eric Chevillard

UNSUK CHIN

Jordan Stump

Jeremy M. Davies

Lydia Salvayre

Alyson Waters

Music & Literature, Inc.

Every Song Ever

Arts & Photography

Music

Allen Lane.

Penguin

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Books by Ben Ratliff