Check this out:
The man on the left is my favorite musician of all time, John Coltrane. The man on the right is Kevin Durant, who is about to find out which city in the Pacific Northwest he will set on fire for the next few years.
The thing that has always appealed to me about Coltrane is that his music hits all the important places: the head, the heart, and the soul. If we’re all lucky, we’ll be able to say the same thing about Kevin Durant’s game at the next level. The physical resemblance that strikes me between these two men is primarily in the eyes – a strong and direct gaze, and a confidence that says “I am about to righteously blow your mind”.
Coltrane had a vision for music that sounded like noise to those who were unprepared to hear what he was laying down, but he could play sweet enough to make a woman swoon when he wanted to. Perhaps one day Kevin Durant will have that same command of his instrument.
There is no doubt, however, that supporting cast is crucial. Trane had a rhythm section of McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison on many of his truly classic recordings, including his magnum opus A Love Supreme. Later he even brought in fellow saxophonist Archie Shepp when he was ready to get really radical. It wasn’t always the same guys, but it was always someone who knew how to play within Trane’s groove.
The most crucial aspect of the coming years for Kevin Durant will involve the selection of sidemen for his upcoming tour de force. Perhaps he can reach a place where that fiery ebb and flow will be his to command, just as it once was for John Coltrane. When he finds that ability to play something old in a new way, and something new in an earth-shattering way…. well, look out, NBA. That’s all I can say.
(Props to Free Darko, where Basketball is Jazz every day of the year)
Love Supreme = the balls.
Terrific analogy. Blue Train is my all-time fave.
And to answer your question: yes, we did.
dude, you so need to cite freedarko if you’re going to riff against their lead.
beautiful analogy; it’s perfect
OK, here are the details I promised:
http://hazeradio.wordpress.com/2007/06/28/the-hazeans-blogger-mock-draft-details/
Jack – you are correct. I was riffing off of them, and I am guilty of assuming that everyone would know that. However, I am also relatively certain that the comparison has been around even longer than Free Darko.
Draft order is up:
http://hazeradio.wordpress.com/2007/06/28/blogger-draft-order/
Did You know that this cyberspace is the crayest thing ever. hahahaha
Greetings sofia
http://sofiawinterborn.wordpress.com/2007/06/24/sofiaisnt-the-cyberspace-the-crazyest-thing-ever/
Hope you’re just right, since I love both Jazz and Basketball as well…
jeff greene should provide the basketball equivalent of Elvin Jones’ metronomic drum; setting the pace of the game with his presence. The Sonics need a competent pianist, and worthy bass player. Don’ t think that anyone else on that team can fill that Tyner/Garrison void. But they are on their way to compiling a more than adaquate quartet as the nucleus. Live at the 1/2 Note will blow your mind.
Yeah, Austin, that pianist gig is tough. I mean, Tyner was a leader-quality sideman. Where are you going to find that and still fit under the salary cap?
Man, this analogy is starting to make my brain hurt.
Coltrane was one of the hardest working saxophone players of all time. Many say that he was no where near as gifted or talented as Charlie Parker, Stan Getz and many of the other great sax players, but his relentless hardwork and dedication to his craft is what made him one of the most influential musicians of all time.
As a Sonics fan, I hope that Durant is the basketball equivalent of John Coltrane.
For a great read and incite into Coltrane’s life read “Chasin’ the Trane”. Best Coltrane book out there.
[...] Did You Know that Basketball is Jazz? Check this out: [image] The man on the left is my favorite musician of all time, John Coltrane. The man on the right is […] [...]
Yeah, I don’t know if Coltrane’s technique was the absolute tops, but it was so emotionally raw at times, it has always made me sit up and pay attention.
Great analogy
Miles said, “If you went by John’s house and you didn’t hear him playin’, he wasn’t home.” I’m not sure what that has to do with this, but I just remembered it and I love it. That was his LIFE.
Coming from Miles, that was an effusive compliment.
As much as I love Trane’s music, you must recognize the fact that he went through a sort of meltdown late in life. His music was so “out” that it became almost unlistenable to everyone except the most diehard fans. The two look alike but I’d prefer a comparison to Benny Carter or Johnny Hodges who remained in the pocket and always had great cohorts.
We’re going to have to agree to disagree on that score, jazzcook. While I am hardly the world’s biggest fan of avant-garde, I recognize the value of experimentation, and since it was undertaken sincerely, I would certainly not classify it as a “meltdown”.
Ah the love avant garde…
Appreciate the analogy.
During the press conference after last years Jordan Classic–Durant and Thaddeus Young were both voted MVP–KD’s eyes and demeanor struck me as something special. He spoke in the same cool ass tone before and after the game and consistently took his time getting to a spot on or off the court. I’ve called him Smooth Jazz since then. I was crazy excited having access to the hallowed innards (press box, locker room) of Madison Square Garden for the first time and Durant was obviously a point of interest along with Paul Harris of Syracuse and North Carolina’s three freshman.
Thanks for this.
Don’t know if I can agree with jazzcook on that one. I think Mr. Coltrane had reached his equinox shortlky before he died. Check out “Live at the Village Vanguard Again! [LIVE] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REISSUED] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]“. This was released in 1966. He does 2 songs, Naima and My Favorite Things and they will make any true jazz fan shiver at their core. Naima simplistic complexity of the most beautiful nature and My Favorite Things being a virtual roller coastwer ride. You will shake afterwards.
Agreed, Wunii – if you liked his initial experimentation, how can you say he should have stopped there? The visionary ones always took it to the extreme.
But then again, these arguments come out of the fact that jazz is, by its nature, improvisational. Who knows what can come out of that on any given night?
MIZZO – No, thank you for reading and commenting. I actually started out just noticing that same fire in the eye, but then the analogy kind of grew on me while I was writing. I guess I was writing “jazz” too.
[...] quiet on the NBA draft front. Still looks like it’ll be Oden-Durant, no significant trades have gone down, and Kevin Garnett is still freezing his ass off in a [...]