Translinear Light

Translinear Light was Coltrane's first commercial album following a 26-year hiatus,[1] during which she was "home most often, focused on contemplation and inner growth."[2] She recorded Translinear Light at the encouragement of her sons Ravi and Oran.[2] Ravi Coltrane stated: "I always felt like there was a gap that was widening — any idea of us being two professional working musicians at the same time was just evaporating. I was getting deeper and deeper into music and each year she would say she was more and more retired from music. I think about those times I had opportunities to play professionally with my mother, but I was new to it and not ready. I wanted some document that I'll always be able to share with my kids. I don't want to have a day of regret, saying, 'I never did this with my mom.'"[2] Alice Coltrane recalled: "Well, I told my children I'm so happy to do this, but I’m not starting a second career!"[2] "My son was... practically pleading, 'Mom, you must do this, you have to!' It sort of originated from him, 'Mom, please make a record, make a CD.' So I said okay and this is what we did."[3] Recordings for the album took place at five different locations on dates ranging from April 28, 2000 to June 12, 2004.[4]

Coltrane scholar Ashley Kahn wrote: "The title is a play on the Coltrane name, and also a nod to Alice Coltrane's deep spirituality."[5] With regard to the title, he quotes Coltrane: "Look at what trance means... It means to transcend... it means to become transcendental! So if we get a singular transcendental path of light, that could lead to such great dimensions of consciousness, of revelation, of spirituality, of spiritual power."[5]

Ekow Eshun, writing for The Observer (UK) in 2004 said, 'Translinear Light is less of a comeback than a continuation of where she left off. Coltrane eschews the harp, her most well-known instrument, for piano and Wurlitzer organ. And while the album doesn't touch the heights of a record like 1970's Journey in Satchidananda, it's more focused than her later work in the Seventies'.[6] JazzTimes reviewer David R. Adler described the album as "momentous," stating that it "channels the raw magic of Alice Coltrane’s classic early albums without recapitulating old ideas. There is a relevance and sonic freshness in her Wurlitzer organ, her synthesizer, her piano... Translinear Light is seamless, and wholly refreshing."[7] John Kelman, writing in AllAboutJazz, called the disc "a richly rewarding album of music that has little to do with music as an exercise in technique and more as a means of conveying deeper expression... With Translinear Light Coltrane has created a work that honestly and unassumingly demonstrates the healing power of music, bypassing more intellectual concerns and instead going straight for the heart of the matter."[8] AllMusic reviewer Thom Jurek wrote: "Translinear Light is a major entry in Coltrane's catalog. It is a defining, aesthetically brilliant statement from a master composer, improviser, and player. If ever there were a candidate for jazz album of 2004, Translinear Light is it."[1]

• Alice Coltrane — piano or Wurlitzer organ; synthesizer on "The Hymn"
• Ravi Coltrane — tenor saxophone on "Jagadishwar," "Blue Nile," "Crescent," and "Leo"; soprano saxophone on "Translinear Light"; percussion on "Sita Ram" and "Translinear Light"; sleigh bells on "Leo"
• Oran Coltrane — alto saxophone on "The Hymn"
• Charlie Haden — bass on "Translinear Light," "This Train," "Crescent," and "Troika"
• James Genus — bass on "Walk with Me," "Jagadishwar," and "Blue Nile"
• Jack De Johnette — drums on "Sita Ram," "Translinear Light," "This Train," and "Crescent," and "Leo"
• Jeff "Tain" Watts — drums on "Walk with Me," "Jagadishwar," and "Blue Nile"
• The Sai Anantam Ashram Singers — vocals on "Satya Sai Isha"