John Coltrane Symposium Panels and Concert
Saturday, September 25, 2021
Saturday, September 25, 2021
The Second Annual John Coltrane Symposium culminates in this day-long event featuring moderated panel discussions, a dramatic reading, music, and more — in celebration of the life and music of John William Coltrane.
The highlight of this year’s symposium will be two panel discussions about Coltrane’s music and life. The opening panel includes discussions between ethnomusicologist Nia I’man Smith; composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator, Jamal Moore; and artist-educator and AfriCobra member, James Phillips.
Our second panel will feature three biographers on John Coltrane. Scholar and musician, Karlton Hester will join two of the earliest biographers on Trane: Bill Cole and Dr. C.O. Simpkins. Cole and Simpkins have not been in conversion in over thirty years. We are honored to bring them together along with Hester to learn about their approaches and research to bringing Coltrane’s life, music and beliefs to a wider audience.
Keynote speaker Dr. Greg Carr will walk us through the historical and musical narrative of Coltrane and his musical foundations. This year’s symposium will also include a dramatic reading of Dear Listener from Carlo Campbell of Theatre in the X. Dear Listener, a play conceived and written by Anyabwile Love, takes place just days after Coltrane records A Love Supreme and imagines his reflections on his life and musical career as he visits his mother and Cousin Mary in Philadelphia. Our four days of events will conclude in the only way imaginable: with a musical performance by Alfie Pollitt and his All-Star Quartet.
Panel I
Impressions on Coltrane
Panel II
A Force for Real Good: A Coltrane Biographers Round Table
Keynote Address
Dramatic Reading: Dear Listener
Closing Concert
Alfie Pollitt All-Star Quartet at The Woodlands Mansion
Free with RSVP
All Ages