Jazz Video Guy

AI Slop or something useful. Let the dialogue begin.

9 months ago | [YT] | 1

Jazz Video Guy

People often ask why I write about John Coltrane so much. One friend even challenged me: “Do we really need another Coltrane book?” My answer is always the same—yes, absolutely. Because John Coltrane wasn’t simply a musician. He was a spiritual force, a visionary who transformed sound into revelation. Few artists in human history have reached so deeply into the soul of existence and returned with such beauty, discipline, and truth.

Coltrane showed what a human being could become when devotion, intellect, and love fused into one purpose. His music wasn’t about fame or fashion—it was about transcendence. He made the saxophone a channel for prayer, struggle, and awakening.

And today, when ignorance, cruelty, and corruption dominate so much of public life—especially in the United States—the contrast is blinding. Coltrane’s example reminds us of what greatness looks like: humility, courage, service, and the relentless search for higher meaning. Against the noise of greed and stupidity, his horn still calls us to rise, to listen, to evolve. The world doesn’t need another Coltrane biography. It needs his spirit, more than ever.

"How John Coltrane Changed Me" isn't really a biography. It's about my journey and how he has made such a difference in my life.


Read A Sample Chapter:

coltranecode.substack.com/p/read-a-sample-chapter?…

10 months ago | [YT] | 446

Jazz Video Guy

Listening to "The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost" on John Coltrane's Meditations, I remembered this: In the early 70s, when I was at NYU FIlm School, I drove a taxi at night to support myself. My boombox saved me. I listened to a variety of music non-stop, including Coltrane.

One Friday just after midnight, I got stopped by a hotel doorman, who put the great chanteuse Ethel Merman in my cab. To say she was drunk would be a huge understatement. In fact, she was so tipsy, I was afraid she was going to puke in the back seat. The doorman sensed my concern and said, don't worry, she's only going a few blocks. Three to be exact.

I was listening to "The Father, The Son and the Holy Ghost" from Meditations at the time, the moment where Trane and Pharoah escalate their musical dialogue. Just for the fun of it, yes, I'm a wicked soul, I turned up the volume for Ethel.

As we sped to her destination, she screamed loud enough so people in the street turned heads. "Why are you torturing me? That's not music." She rolled down the window and yelled to passersby, "help, help."
This madness only lasted about forty five seconds. I think the fare was $.95. She gave me $1.25 and as she exited, told me, I'm reporting you to the police.

As she slammed the door shut, I put on another cassette that seemed very appropriate at the time. Sonny Rollins playing "There's No Business Like Show Business."

11 months ago | [YT] | 104

Jazz Video Guy

Thank you to everyone who has purchased or downloaded my book, “How John Coltrane Changed Me.” I have another request—please consider writing a review on Amazon. Reviews drive the algorithm and increase the chances Amazon will recommend the book to new readers.

This isn't just about book sales or recognition. It has become my mission to share the transformative power of genuine artistic expression in a world too often consumed by empty spectacle.

I'm committed to using every skill and creative resource I have to ensure this message reaches people who need it. This work stands firmly on the side of what nurtures the human spirit rather than what diminishes it. I stand with Coltrane and all artists who dedicate themselves to elevating consciousness through their craft.

While our culture often celebrates violence, sensationalism, and division, Coltrane's music represents the opposite impulse: the desire to build, to heal, to transcend what keeps us trapped in cycles of pain. His saxophone became an instrument of spiritual exploration, showing us that meaning is possible, that beauty matters, that transcendence is real.

My commitment extends beyond this book. I'll continue using my voice, research, and writing to counter narratives that present destruction as entertainment and spiritual emptiness as sophistication. Every conversation becomes an opportunity to redirect attention toward what truly matters: cultivating wisdom, beauty, and genuine human connection.

Coltrane refused the cheap currency of distraction. In an age where sensation eclipses substance, his devotion to sound as spirit offers something different. He showed that practice is prayer, that music is a discipline of the soul, a path to liberation.

To invoke him now is to resist the mentality that reduces everything to its lowest common denominator. It insists that meaning exists in rigor, that beauty arises from struggle, and that transcendence remains possible through human effort aligned with divine intention.

I've witnessed how Coltrane's music can transform consciousness, how engagement with authentic art can awaken dormant possibilities, how pursuing transcendent beauty provides an alternative to the cycles of violence that dominate our attention. This is why your support matters.


tinyurl.com/coltranebook

11 months ago | [YT] | 67

Jazz Video Guy

Gary Bartz turns 85 today. Damn!

11 months ago | [YT] | 30

Jazz Video Guy

My new Coltrane book is now available on Amazon. This week only, you can get the Kindle (ebook) version for free: tinyurl.com/coltranekindle

Why for free? An author gives away a Kindle book for free to lower the barrier for readers to try it, which increases the chance they will leave a review. Reviews act as social proof and influence buying decisions far more than descriptions or ads. On Amazon, books with more reviews rank higher in search and recommendation algorithms, which drives visibility and sales.

If you don’t own a Kindle device, you can download the free app to read the book on your phone, table, laptop, desktop or smart glasses.


Thank you for your continued support of my work!

11 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 40

Jazz Video Guy

My story: "How John Coltrane Changed My Life - A Jazz Journey" tinyurl.com/howcoltranechangedme

11 months ago | [YT] | 12

Jazz Video Guy

Sonny turns 95 today. I did this film in 2007 during a tour of New Mexico. At the time I was producing Sonny's website, and we did a number of videos together, which you'll find here on my channel. I hope you like it!

1 year ago | [YT] | 82

Jazz Video Guy

One of the problems with aging is that the cast of characters keeps changing and the pace quickens. We lose our loved ones, our friends and eventually we join them. I'm blessed to have known Mulgrew and heard him play live, many times. His is missed. BIG TIME

1 year ago | [YT] | 39

Jazz Video Guy

Very sad to learn of the passing of Hal Galper. I had the honor of writing the introduction to one of his books, and we did some great video together.

Hal Galper was an American jazz pianist, composer, and educator. He was born on April 18, 1938, in Salem, Massachusetts. Galper has been a prominent figure in jazz for several decades, known for his unique approach to improvisation and his collaborations with other notable jazz musicians.

Galper first gained fame in the 1960s as a sideman with musicians such as Chet Baker, Stan Getz, and Phil Woods. He later formed his own bands and recorded many influential albums as a bandleader, including "Wild Bird," "Speak with a Single Voice," and "The Guerilla Band."

Galper was known for his use of harmonic substitution and rhythmic displacement in his improvisation, as well as his ability to blend different styles of jazz into his playing. He was also an acclaimed jazz educator, having taught at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music and the William Paterson University Jazz Studies Program.



youtube.com/playlist?list=PLX...

1 year ago | [YT] | 39