Universal Consciousness cover

Universal Consciousness

Released

Alice Coltrane’s writing for strings was unique; strongly influenced by Stravinsky, she created dramatic, sweeping effects and sudden, jarring accents. For much of this 1971 album, she plays Wurlitzer electric organ, with Jimmy Garrison on bass and several different drummers, and the strings flash through like lightning in the desert. The music reaches an ecstatic peak on the aptly titled “Battle At Armageddon,” a duo with Rashied Ali where her organ sears the air as he chops time up into gleaming shards.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Omega cover

Omega

Immanuel Wilkins
Revelation cover

Revelation

Jean Carn, Doug Carn
Meditations cover

Meditations

John Coltrane
Birdland, Neuburg 2011 cover

Birdland, Neuburg 2011

Cecil Taylor, Tony Oxley
Pathways & Passages cover

Pathways & Passages

Cosmic Vibrations, Dwight Trible
Raw Materials and Residuals cover

Raw Materials and Residuals

Famoudou Don Moye, Julius Hemphill, Abdul Wadud
Now Then cover

Now Then

Tani Tabbal Trio
Under the Sun cover

Under the Sun

Human Arts Ensemble