“I want to be a force for real good. In other words. I know that there are bad forces, forces that bring suffering to others and misery to the world, but I want to be the opposite force. I want to be the force which is truly for good.” – John Coltrane

Timed at around 40 minutes, this can be a difficult listen at first, but with a patient ear and an appreciation for the finer things in life, the reward is a greater understanding of the personal path that the artist was on at that particular time in his development. Coltrane was always on an unceasing mission for personal expansion through the mouthpiece of his horn, but by the time of this recording he had begun to reach the level of “elder statesman” and to find other voices (Shepp, Sanders, and Marion Brown) to propel and expand his sounds and emotions. Therefore, Ascension reflects more of an event rather than just a jazz record and should be sought out by either experienced jazz appreciators or other open-minded listeners, but not by unsuspecting bystanders. [source]

John Coltrane – Tenor Saxophone
Freddie Hubbard – Trumpet
Dewey Johnson – Trumpet
Marion Brown – Alto Saxophone
John Tchicai – Alto Saxophone
Pharoah Sanders – Tenor Saxophone
Archie Shepp – Tenor Saxophone
McCoy Tyner – Piano
Art Davis – Bass
Jimmy Garrison – Bass
Elvin Jones – Drums