''World Galaxy'' is the sixth solo album by Alice Coltrane. It was recorded in November 1971 in New York City, and was released in 1972 by Impulse! Records. On the album, Coltrane appears on piano, organ, harp, tamboura, and percussion, and is joined by saxophonist Frank Lowe, bassist Reggie Workman, drummer

Ben Riley Benjamin Alexander Riley Jr. (July 17, 1933 – November 18, 2017) was an American jazz drummer known for his work with Thelonious Monk, as well as Alice Coltrane, Stan Getz, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Ahmad Jamal, and as a member of the group Sp ...

, timpanist

Elayne Jones Elayne Viola Jones (January 30, 1928 – December 17, 2022) was an American timpanist. An African American woman, she broke the color barrier in classical music by becoming the first Black principal in a major American orchestra in 1972. In 2019 ...

, and a string ensemble led by David Sackson. Violinist Leroy Jenkins also appears on soloist on one track, and Swami Satchidananda provides narration. ''World Galaxy'' features a trilogy of original compositions bookended by " My Favorite Things" and "A Love Supreme", two pieces for which her husband John Coltrane was known. It was the second in a series of three albums (following '' Universal Consciousness'' and preceding '' Lord of Lords'') on which Coltrane appeared with an ensemble of strings. In 2011, Impulse! reissued the album, along with ''

Huntington Ashram Monastery ''Huntington Ashram Monastery'' is the second solo album by Alice Coltrane. It was recorded in May 1969 at the Coltrane home studios in Dix Hills, New York, and was initially released later that year by John Coltrane Records, which was absorbed b ...

'', as part of a compilation titled ''Huntington Ashram Monastery/World Galaxy''.

Reception

The AllMusic review by Thom Jurek awarded the album 4½ stars stating "This set may take some getting used to for some, but it's easily one of the strongest records Alice Coltrane ever released, and one of the finest moments in jazz from the early '70s". In an article for '' The Guardian'', Jennifer Lucy Allan wrote: "there is a ferocious power and emotion in these versions of 'A Love Supreme' and 'My Favorite Things'... 'My Favorite Things' starts sweetly but descends into a chaotic breakdown as her organ flares in anxious bursts... 'A Love Supreme'... is soothingly narrated by Swami Satchidananda before she lets loose a rude funk upon the standard's signature motif." Chris May of '' All About Jazz'' called the album a "full-on astral experience," and commented: "''World Galaxy'' is transporting stuff—and the four pieces which precede "A Love Supreme" make that much maligned track sound perfectly logical." ''AAJs Chris M. Slawecki described ''World Galaxy'' as a "meditative sound cloud," and stated that, on the three "Galaxy" pieces, "lush strings" surround "Coltrane's organ, tamboura and harp, which flutters within and around the sound like a winged angel." He referred to "A Love Supreme" as "a genuine musical experience—a religious musical experience centered around the sacredness of the word 'love' and the nature and name of God." Writing for The Quietus, Stewart Smith stated that, on the "Galaxy" trilogy, "Coltrane elevates her music to the astral plane." He described "Galaxy Around Olodumare" as "free jazz via Stravinsky and Stockhausen, with Frank Lowe's raw saxophone burning a hole through gaseous string abstractions," while "Galaxy In Turiya" features "harp drifting over luscious strings," followed by "Galaxy In Satchidananda," which "sounds like the birth of a new planet." In an article for '' The Attic'', Dragos Rusu wrote: "The harp is probably one of the very few instruments that you can reach the most divine and spiritual sound with; and there's plenty of harp, in each song... The trilogy of the Galaxies... travels through time and religion, eventually hypnotizing the listener with its ridiculously rough melody, harmony and love. This album is pure love."

Track listing

All compositions by Alice Coltrane except where noted. # " My Favorite Things" (

Richard Rodgers Richard Charles Rodgers (June 28, 1902 – December 30, 1979) was an American Musical composition, composer who worked primarily in musical theater. With 43 Broadway musicals and over 900 songs to his credit, Rodgers was one of the most ...

Oscar Hammerstein II Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein II (; July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer, and (usually uncredited) director in the musical theater for almost 40 years. He won eight Ton ...

) – 6:22 # "Galaxy Around Olodumare" – 4:15 # "Galaxy In Turiya" – 9:55 # "Galaxy In Satchidananda" – 10:25 # "A Love Supreme" ( John Coltrane) – 9:58

Personnel

* Alice Coltrane – piano,

organ Organ may refer to: Biology * Organ (biology), a part of an organism Musical instruments * Organ (music), a family of keyboard musical instruments characterized by sustained tone ** Electronic organ, an electronic keyboard instrument ** Hammond ...

harp The harp is a stringed musical instrument that has a number of individual strings running at an angle to its soundboard; the strings are plucked with the fingers. Harps can be made and played in various ways, standing or sitting, and in orche ...

, tanpura, percussion * Frank Lowe – saxophone, percussion * Leroy Jenkins – solo violin * Reggie Workman –

bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in the bass range: ** Bass (instrument), including: ** Acoustic bass gui ...

–

drums A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...

* Elayne Jones – timpani * Swami Satchidananda – voice

The String Orchestra

* David Sackson – concertmaster (all other members, strings) * Arthur Aaron * Henry Aaron * Julien Barber * Avron Coleman * Harry Glickman * Edward Green * Janet Hill * LeRoy Jenkins * Joan Kalisch * Ronald Lipscomb * Seymour Miroff * Thomas Nickerson * Alan Shulman * Irving Spice * William Stone

References

{{Authority control 1972 albums Alice Coltrane albums Albums produced by Alice Coltrane Impulse! Records albums