Golio,
Gary. Spirit
Seeker: John Coltrane’s
Musical Journey. Houghton Mifflin/Clarion 40p $17.99 978-0-547-23994-1 2012 ms E-BN
John Coltrane, saxophonist
extraordinaire, had a short but exceedingly influential life in the world of
jazz. This striking picture book
biography touches on both the personal and professional sides of Coltrane’s
life. Brought up in a closely knit
religious and musical family in North Carolina, he lost four close family
members in the space of a year and had difficulty recovering emotionally. Eventually, he followed his mother to
Philadelphia. There he began to play
with all of the biggest names in the jazz world. The author discusses the development of his
style and how it impacted the musical world.
The writing is thoughtful, nonjudgmental, and compassionately objective
in its presentation of information. The
author does not shy away from discussing Coltrane’s problems with drugs and
alcohol and how he managed to overcome his addictions. The spectacular artwork is a combination of
acrylic paintings and mixed media that draws the reader directly into the
text. The book ends with an afterword,
an author and illustrator’s note, a bibliography, and a discography.
Coltrane, John–Biography, Jazz-Biography --Susan Ogintz
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