Dr. Lewis Porter is a celebrated and Grammy-nominated jazz pianist who has performed many times for Lexington Community Ed with noted stars. As an award-winning author and long-time professor at Tufts, Brandeis, and Rutgers, he is in demand everywhere for his entertaining and enlightening lectures. He is the author of John Coltrane: His Life and Music, the only Coltrane biography endorsed by John’s son, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, as well as by Jimmy Heath, Dan Morgenstern, and many others. He is also the editor of the John Coltrane Reference, a big “day by day” listing. Because he is the world’s leading Coltrane researcher, all three classes will feature unpublished information and rare recordings and videos. PART 1. Oct 14: Early life and first recordings, 1926-1957, through first recordings with Miles Davis: Private recordings made at age 19. Two years with Dizzy Gillespie. Touring with R&B bands. Discovery by Miles Davis. A rare look at how his solos were edited. PART 2. Oct 21: Rapid style changes between 1957 and 1961. He works with Monk, returns to Miles and appears on Kind of Blue, and starts recording as a leader: Blue Train, Giant Steps. He proves to be an innovative arranger: My Favorite Things, Out of This World. PART 3. Oct 28: Coltrane becomes renowned, 1961-1964. He continues to progress rapidly. His performances were controversial and avant-garde: Chasin’ the Trane, his work with Eric Dolphy. But he recorded with Duke Ellington and singer Johnny Hartman. What were the pressures on him as a popular artist? Coltrane’s “classic quartet”–a look at McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones. PART 4 Nov. 4: Coltrane’s most famous recording, A Love Supreme–and a newly released “live” version from Seattle! Coltrane’s music after the quartet–how to make sense out of his most avantgarde music. His death, his legacy, and a wealth of unreleased recordings and new discoveries. $20 per Zoom session • Register for Individual, Multiple, or All Sessions • Proceeds go to support the work of LCE
