Friday, July 03, 2015

Concert Planned Sunday to Celebrate Jazz Icon John Coltrane
July 2, 2015 5:53 PM
By DEBORAH S. MORRIS
deborah.morris@newsday.com

A celebration of the 50th anniversary of John Coltrane's seminal album "A Love Supreme," which he wrote at his Dix Hills home, is set for Sunday.

Fans and Long Island residents will celebrate the life and legacy of the late jazz icon at Coltrane Day, a free music festival in Huntington's Heckscher Park.

The day will include jam sessions; workshops for both children and adults; and live musical performances by jazz band Bangalore Breakdown, New York-based jazz group Mala Waldron Quartet and Coltrane's son, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane.

"People are gathering to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 'A Love Supreme,' which is the masterpiece that John Coltrane composed in the Dix Hills home," said Ron Stein, chief operating officer of the nonprofit Coltrane Home. "We want people to celebrate the fact that not one but two music giants lived right here in the Town of Huntington," he said, referring to Coltrane and his wife, Alice Coltrane, also a jazz artist.

"They raised their family here and left a legacy of music that should be something to make anyone who lives here very proud. And the day will offer something for everybody."

The couple lived in the Candlewood Path home between 1964 and 1967, the last three years of his life. The family stayed there until 1971.

Stein said the day will also present the opportunity to unveil a new program aimed at encouraging music education, creativity, fun and personal expression in the creation of music.

"It's a program that we have been hosting at East End Arts out in Riverhead, but we are hoping to bring it into the public school over the next year."

He added his organization hopes the day brings awareness that a historic and important landmark sits right in Huntington.

"We want to make people aware of the importance of restoring the home and fulfilling the goals of creating a museum and learning archive and outreach education center on the premises."

Coltrane Day will take place from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with performances and a discussion to follow at 7:30. The event is open to the public, but attendees can guarantee spots in the workshops by visiting thecoltranehome.org.

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