Here is my opinion on John Coltrane. He was so talented, and so good, that it became easy for him to produce some of the best sounds anybody ever heard. When it became easy, he couldn't believe it, he thought he had to practice and work; that's what he did to get that good, it's time to just let his "God Given" talent take command and coast.
Every "candid" photo I ever saw of Trane, even when he was supposed to be having a drink and enjoying the company of other musicians, at Nica's pad, that sax was next to him; he even went to sleep in a chair, with that sax laying across him.
I had been admiring my friends music for 6 years before that summer he came to my apartment. The first time he performed when he was there, I was astounded at the new music. No he never practiced that summer, but each time, the music was different and the response from the audience was overwhelming. After the performance, he never asked me what I thought; although one look at me while he was performing told him anything he wanted to know about what I thought. "Where are we going to get a good bowl of chili?" was his opening conversation.
What I'm saying, is that after Trane got so good that it was unnecessary for him to practice, he kept on; he kept trying to improve something that needed no more improvement. Case in point, I'm making chili and I got it just right; but I decide to add a little more salt to make it "Mo better", and guess what?
I'm not the only person who says Trane went to far out before he died; but since Frogman plays the sax, I'm sure he understood Trane's every last note, but I didn't.
Now it's super absurd, to say that a person who had not played for a year did not need to practice; but how much practice does a performing improvising jazz musician need? I say that practice could take away some of the "instantaneous" improvisation required of a musician who is playing Trane's kind of jazz, which was the exact same kind of jazz my friend was playing.
Enjoy the music.
