180g Vinyl LP Reissue Remastered Using Pure Analogue Components Only from the Master Tapes Through to the Cutting Head

When the brilliant saxophonist John Coltrane died in 1967, the core values of jazz music had long drawn him into the spiritual world (A Love Supreme, Ascension, Meditations etc.). His widow and final pianist followed in his footsteps. Alice Coltrane sought after "cosmic sounds, higher dimensions, astral levels" – she had an important influence on the spiritualized, esoteric music scene of the 1970s.

Her first album was only released after John's death, but Eternity was already her tenth. The album draws its power from highly contrasted sound worlds. The size of the ensemble ranges from an unaccompanied harp solo ("Wisdom Eye") to a large orchestra with a big band of up to 25 plus a 12-man string section. Alice's main instrument is the electric Wurlitzer organ, whose rasping sound conjures up John's saxophone (especially in the opening number "Spiritual Eternal"). Mostly she improvises modally, sinuously, or with meditative ecstasy – whether in the style of Latin rock ("Los Caballos") or quite without a firm tempo ("Morning Worship" with a tamboura accompaniment).

Support comes from such renowned musicians as Charlie Haden (bass), Jerome Richardson (saxophone and flute), Hubert Laws (flute) and Ernie Watts (cor anglais). In the number "Om Supreme" Coltrane switches to a gently swinging Fender Rhodes electric piano, which is joined by a six-voice vocal group. A surprising finale to the album is an orchestral adaptation of an excerpt from Stravinsky's "Le Sacre du printemps". Here the moments of dissonance and free jazz are far from meditative contemplation.

This Speakers Corner 180g vinyl LP reissue was remastered using pure analogue components only, from the master tapes through to the cutting head.