The artist Patti Smith said “invented” a whole new style of music
The vital importance of Patti Smith in the history of rock and roll music cannot be overstated. An icon of the New York art scene, Smith was instrumental in the development of punk and alternative rock. From the floors of Max’s Kansas City and the CBGB club, Smith orchestrated a musical revolution that still maintains its relevance to this day, five decades later. Despite her undisputed position as the queen of punk rock, Smith’s cultural diet is incredibly broad, incorporating everything from Motown to noise rock.
Although the origins of punk rock, as we know it today, undoubtedly include artists like Patti Smith, The Velvet Underground, and The Stooges, the origins of punk as an attitude can be traced back much further. In essence, punk is about the rejection of societal and musical norms, pursuing something entirely original and often revolutionary. In that sense, punk could be traced back to the original wave of jazz stars, who sought to tear down the boundaries of traditional music to create something modern and rebellious.
Throughout musical history, the prevalence of jazz has never particularly waned. Countless musicians have come and gone, each leaving their own unique mark on the genre. Despite the musical differences between jazz and rock, the two worlds are invariably linked, so it makes sense that Patti Smith would be a natural disciple of jazz stars like John Coltrane. Just as Smith reinvented perceptions of alternative music, Coltrane left a permanent imprint on free jazz saxophone.
There are multiple notable punks who harbour an appreciation for jazz, but perhaps none more so than Patti Smith. Within her memoir Just Kids, Smith writes extensively about her adoration of John Coltrane, particularly the records he created during the 1960s, A Love Supreme being a prominent example. For Smith, it seems as though Coltrane represents the pinnacle of jazz originality, and it is easy to see why.
Nobody played quite like John Coltrane. Particularly after quitting heroin during the late 1950s, the saxophonist was noted for the experimental edge that many of his records held. While the rest of the jazz scene was focused on harking back to the ‘golden age’ of the 1920s, Coltrane began incorporating influences of traditional African and Spanish music into his work. As a result, releases like Olé Coltrane and Africa/Brass remain some of the finest jazz records of all time.
Speaking to Seattle Weekly back in 2010, Smith took the opportunity to espouse the genius of John Coltrane. “Well, I feel like Coltrane, of course, he was an innovator and invented a whole style and a way of improvisation that we all draw from now,” the Horses songwriter said.
She went on to explain, “But I think the most interesting thing about Coltrane, besides his tone and his sense of improvisation, was his deep spiritual centre. You really felt his relationship with God in his playing.”
Coltrane’s spirituality played a huge role in the life and music of the jazz star, and he is often noted for the uniquely captivating qualities this brought to his playing style. Although he might not seem the most obvious influence on the music of Patti Smith, the improvisational style that she mentions went on to transcend the jazz scene and captivate musicians of all styles and genres, including the defiant rock of Smith.
As Smith can confirm, the music world owes an incredible debt to the timeless quality of John Coltrane. His compelling compositions have captured imaginations for decades and continue to provide inspiration for a wealth of artists to this day, regardless of whether they are particular followers of jazz or not.
