Coltrane’s Ashé III: 34th Annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert. Honoring José Massó (“Con Salsa” on WBUR) and hosted by Eric Jackson (on WGBH). Saturday, October 22, 7:30 pm. Tickets: $25 general admission (plus $2 order fee per ticket); discounts available to groups, NU faculty & staff, WGBH Members, NU & non-NU students, and seniors. Northeastern University, Blackman Theatre, Ell Hall, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston. Wheelchair accessible. For tickets, visit or call for information: 617-373-4700 (TTY 617-373-2184); hours Mon.-Fri., noon–6pm (extended to 8 pm on Wed.), and one hour before the performance; or log onto http://tickets.neu.edu....
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Coltrane’s Ashé III: 34th Annual John Coltrane Memorial Concert. Honoring José Massó (“Con Salsa” on WBUR) and hosted by Eric Jackson (on WGBH). Saturday, October 22, 7:30 pm. Tickets: $25 general admission (plus $2 order fee per ticket); discounts available to groups, NU faculty & staff, WGBH Members, NU & non-NU students, and seniors. Northeastern University, Blackman Theatre, Ell Hall, 360 Huntington Ave., Boston. Wheelchair accessible. For tickets, visit or call for information: 617-373-4700 (TTY 617-373-2184); hours Mon.-Fri., noon–6pm (extended to 8 pm on Wed.), and one hour before the performance; or log onto http://tickets.neu.edu.
For this year’s 34th anniversary, the John Coltrane Memorial Concert (JCMC) revisits Ashé (pronounced Ah-shay), Yoruban for the all-pervasive energy with which the Creator empowers humanity. JCMC explored ‘Trane’s connection to Ashé in their 1993 concert, which resulted in a special edition double CD recording issued in time for their second Ashé concert in 1998. Throughout the Caribbean, Ashé, or life force, speaks to divine presence, blessing, energy — or more succinctly, it speaks to Amen.
Coltrane’s Ashé III will feature 21st century Afro-Caribbean stylistic approaches to Coltrane’s compositions. This influence is illustrated by Trane’s incorporation of “Ogunde”, an adaptation of an Afro-Brazilian folk song (“Ogunde Varere” or “Prayer of the Gods”), Mongo Santamaria's “Afro-Blue”, and the 1965 rendition of Juno Lewis’ “Kulu Se Mama” into his repertoire, as well as his own Afro-Caribbean influenced compositions such as “Brazilia”, “Dahomey Dance,” and “Africa”. As in the Yoruba tradition, which stems from ancient times and to this day continues to have a dominant influence and impact in African-centric religions, JCMC’s Coltrane’s Ashé III serves as a greeting and an affirmation of spiritual growth — the life force that catapults us out of our seats to dance.
In JCMC tradition, WGBH’s Eric Jackson presides over this year's concert which honors José Massó, who is celebrating his 36th year as host of WBUR’s "ἱCon Salsa!,” Boston’s best radio source for Afro-Latin music. Massó is being recognized for his groundbreaking leadership in the fields of education, communications, politics, entertainment, and sports.
Coltrane’s Ashé III will feature the John Coltrane Memorial Ensemble, an outstanding lineup of 14 prominent Boston-based musicians, many of whom have been the core of the John Coltrane Memorial Concert over its 34 year legacy: Carl Atkins, Leonard Brown, Jeff Galindo, Tim Ingles, John Lockwood, Ricardo Monzon, David Neves, Jason Palmer, Bill Pierce, Ron Savage, Syd Smart, Joel Larue Smith, Stan Strickland, and Gary Valente.
John Coltrane inspired many, no matter the community or culture, to achieve musical, spiritual, and humanitarian heights never thought possible. The Boston based John Coltrane Memorial Concert (JCMC), established in 1977, is an annual recognition of Coltrane’s spiritual and musical legacy. The world’s oldest annual performance tribute to Coltrane and now in its 34th year of existence, JCMC is currently based in the Department of African American Studies at Northeastern University. www.northeastern.edu/daas/
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