In the chill of autumn's embrace, we mark the birth of John Coltrane, a figure whose presence loomed as vast as the heavens, yet whose mortal span was all too brief. Born in the small town of Hamlet, North Carolina, in 1926, Coltrane’s journey would begin humbly, yet soon ascend to the ethereal. Raised in the midst of the Great Depression, Coltrane discovered his voice through the saxophone, his instrument of prayer.

In the grand cosmic dance of jazz, where notes float like leaves in the autumn wind, there stands a figure whose very name conjures the essence of innovation, rebellion, and pure, unadulterated genius—Miles Davis. Born on this day, May 26th, 1926, in Alton, Illinois, Miles Davis would go on to become a towering giant in the world of music, leaving behind a legacy that transcends genres and generations.

The Early Days: Birth of the Cool

Today, The John & Alice Coltrane Home and the Coltrane Family, in partnership with Impulse! Records, Detroit Jazz Festival, Hammer Museum, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, The New York Historical Society, and many more, have declared 2024-2025 to be THE YEAR OF ALICE, celebrating the extensive life work of spiritual leader, composer, and musician Alice Coltrane.

From all of us at Grateful Web, we're celebrating the legendary jazz pianist, McCoy Tyner, whose music continues to resonate with soulful energy and innovative spirit. Born on December 11, 1938, Tyner's journey in jazz is a testament to his unparalleled genius and lasting influence.

Rhino is synonymous with high-quality reissues, pioneering the catalog business with award-winning audio releases for the past 45 years. The legendary label is setting the standard once again with the launch of the exclusive premium vinyl series, Rhino High Fidelity (Rhino Hi-Fi). These high-end, limited-edition vinyl reissues of classic albums represent the pinnacle of sound and packaging.

Craft Recordings announces the relaunch of Original Jazz Classics – the acclaimed reissue series that faithfully presented more than 850 memorable jazz albums over three decades. First launched in 1982 under Fantasy Records, the imprint served as a home for the label’s impressive jazz catalog – which had grown to include thousands of celebrated titles from Prestige, Galaxy, Milestone, Riverside, Debut, Contemporary, Jazzland, and Pablo.

In January 2023, BMG continues their annual celebration of Jazzuary with four new vinyl reissues from the stellar Bethlehem Records jazz catalog. Titles from giants of the genre—Charles Mingus, Art Blakey, Duke Ellington and John Coltrane—have been pressed to 180 gram vinyl from remastered high-res 96 kHz/24 bit audio, ready for the next generation to discover these incredible recordings.

All four titles are now available to pre-order here.

After circumstances forced the last minute cancellation of his previous engagement, Chris Botti, the Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum selling artist, has arranged his schedule so he can headline the 11th John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival (JCIJBF), on Sunday, Sept. 4, 2022 in Oak Hollow Festival Park, High Point, NC.

John Coltrane’s spiritual jazz masterpiece, A Love Supreme, has been certified platinum by the RIAA for sales of 1 million albums in the U.S. The achievement garners Coltrane his first-ever platinum record and is the first jazz album of the 1960s to receive platinum status, underscoring its enduring legacy and importance.

After nearly six decades, a private recording of a rare, nightclub performance by John Coltrane of his magnum opus, A Love Supreme, is now available via Impulse! Records/UMe.