WHEREAS, Philadelphia’s most noted jazz musician, arranger, composer, cultural humanitarian and Grammy Award Winner, John William Coltrane, was born in Hamlet, North Carolina on September 23, 1926, on the Equinox,. He grew and realized that the music he was to play existed in the past, present and future also between the notes of conventional notations; and
WHEREAS, In 1944, at the age of 18, Coltrane arrived in Philadelphia at the North Philadelphia train station, and is documented as being one of the major tenor and soprano saxophone players of his era, and today he still remains influential to many younger and older musicians; and
WHEREAS, His musical acumen evolved in Philadelphia and he received wide recognition as an integral member of the renowned Miles Davis Quintet, before forming his own group consisting of Philadelphians, McCoy Tyner on Piano, Elvin Jones on Drums and Jimmy Garrison on Bass; and
WHEREAS, Coltrane was constantly searching, probing and looking for new dimensions and heights to climb, and he humbly asked his audience to reexamine both their ideas of music and themselves; and
WHEREAS, Coltrane wrote, “my goal is to live the truly religious life and express it in my music, I wish for all of us happy and productive lives. My music is the spiritual expression of what I am – my faith, my knowledge, my being”; and
WHEREAS, The TraneStop Resource Institute, was named in the spirit and work ethic of John Coltrane and its emergence in 1979 filled a void and gave the City of Philadelphia and the music community a focused endeavor for sustaining the connection of the music to its uniquely African and American roots; and
WHEREAS, In Coltrane’s honor, the TraneStop devotes attention, support and resources to the art form of jazz, conducts town meetings, community concerts, special educational presentations and seminars to improve the conditions of African American Classical Music in Philadelphia and around the world. TraneStop’s initiatives not only seek to honor the contributions of John Coltrane but other Philadelphia connected musicians as well; and
WHEREAS, From September 1st thru 3rd of 2006, the TraneStop is presenting “The John Coltrane Jazz Festival” in honor of this great Philadelphian, and featuring, among others, Philadelphia bred, international recording artists, Archie Shepp and Billy Paul and co-hosted by State Representative John Myers and State Senator Leanna Washington; now therefore
Resolved, By The Council Of the City OF Philadelphia, That September 23, 2006 and forevermore be declared “John William Coltrane Day” and that we honor TraneStop for its efforts to ensure jazz preservation through education, advocacy and documentation.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to TraneStop Resource Institute, Inc., as further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.
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