Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the birth of John Coltrane, renowned artistic trailblazer and innovative New York jazz musician

Senate Resolution No. 1845

BY: Senator BAILEY

        CELEBRATING  the 100th Anniversary of the birth of
        John Coltrane,  renowned  artistic  trailblazer  and
        innovative New York jazz musician

  WHEREAS,  It  is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
pay tribute  to  the  musical  geniuses  who  have  contributed  to  the
entertainment  and  cultural  enrichment of their local communities, the
entire State of New York, and globally; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the birth of John Coltrane,  renowned
artistic trailblazer and innovative New York jazz musician; and

  WHEREAS,  John  Coltrane  was born on September 23, 1926, in Hamlet,
North Carolina, and spent his formative years studying clarinet and alto
saxophone at the Ornstein School of Music and  the  Granoff  Studios  in
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania;  he later migrated to New York, New York in
1957; and

  WHEREAS,  John  Coltrane's  presence  in  New  York  reinforced  the
region's  appeal  and  raised the bar for artistry while contributing to
the robust jazz culture of the Empire State; and

  WHEREAS, Throughout his career, John Coltrane frequented various New
York institutions such as the Five Spot Cafe in  the  Bowery,  the  Jazz
Gallery  in  Nomad,  the  Village Vanguard in Greenwich Village, and the
Apollo Theater in Harlem; and

  WHEREAS, John Coltrane was considered a hero to Harlem residents for
his multiple appearances at the Apollo Theater between  1948  and  1962,
where  he  performed  with several notable jazz collaborators, including
but not limited to Howard McGhee, McCoy Tyner, Miles  Davis,  and  Dizzy
Gillespie; and

  WHEREAS,  Similarly  to  John  Coltrane, these musicians once hailed
from separate parts of the country, eventually establishing shared roots
in New York during the Great Migration,  and  quickly  becoming  central
figures of the movement and icons of the New York jazz scene; and

  WHEREAS,  Their  artistry  led to New York flourishing as a cultural
hub for future generations of musicians, all infusing their  own  unique
musical and regional styles of creative expression to the genre of jazz;
and

  WHEREAS, John Coltrane's distinct "sheets of sound" have shaped both
straight-ahead  and  experimental  jazz  alike,  resulting  in immensely
influential projects such as "A Love Supreme," "Giant Steps," and  "Blue
Train"; and

  WHEREAS,  John Coltrane has produced an extensive music catalog that
is credited with 2.5 million RIAA certified units; and

  WHEREAS, John Coltrane formed a partnership with  Impulse!  Records,
an iconic New York-based record label distinguished for its experimental
charge and spirituality in music, and in time became known as the "house
that Trane built"; and

  WHEREAS,  John  Coltrane  purchased  a  residential  property in Dix
Hills, New York in 1964, where he lived until his death, and was  buried
in Farmingdale, New York, in 1967; and

  WHEREAS, The John Coltrane Dix Hills residence was listed on the New
York State and National Registers of Historic Places in 2007; and

  WHEREAS,  John  Coltrane's  legacy  and  creative  works continue to
inspire jazz musicians of all backgrounds today and distinguish him as a
globally recognized Master of Jazz Performance; and

  WHEREAS, John Coltrane brings great pride to his family,  the  music
industry, and jazz fans of the great Empire State; and

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  has  deep  appreciation  for  the
exceptional achievements of  John  Coltrane,  and  is  justly  proud  to
celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the birth; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize and thank John Coltrane, his estate, and  music  partners  for
sharing  a  diverse  catalog of music, artistic excellence, and cultural
export.