In this episode, I discuss legendary saxophonist John Coltrane with talented historians, writers, and, of course, musicians. One of those musicians, Charles McPherson, knew Coltrane personally. Coltrane's signature album A Love Supreme and his groundbreaking song "Giant Steps" are singled out for attention, and we talk about his classic quartet with Elvin Jones, McCoy Tyner, and Jimmy Garrison, as well as some of his other great bandmates, including Eric Dolphy, Pharoah Sanders, Rashied Ali, and Alice Coltrane. Coltrane's spirituality, its influence on his sound, and his passion and dedication to the horn permeate the interviews.

Recommended listening:

A Love Supreme Blue Train
Africa Brass Impressions
Giant Steps Meditations
Kulu Se Mama Black Pearls
Transition Live at Birdland
Duke Ellington and John Coltrane Interstellar Space
Ballads Coltrane's Sound
Out of This World My Favorite Things

https://www.gofundme.com/u/d5009c4a-fdcd-4494-bc4b-b19377260e17

TEAR THE CITY DOWN is a classic noir—a find-the-girl mystery, a father-daughter story, a buddy story—but Hardy subverts the genre with a front-face Black world that has jazz running through its bones. Exploring race, identity, power and agency, this is a series launch not to be missed.

The odds of being drafted into the NFL are roughly 1.6%. The odds of landing a debut novel with a Big Five publisher aren't much better. Andre Hardy has done both—and he's applied for a Guinness World Record to prove it. A former running back for the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, Hardy went on to earn an MFA from Antioch University and secure a two-book deal with Grand Central Publishing. His debut novel, TEAR THE CITY DOWN, publishes September 1, 2026.

Andre Hardy has written across multiple genres, including creative nonfiction, essays and short stories, screenwriting, and long-form narrative. Andre’s essays, interviews, and critical analysis have been published in L.A. Tribe Magazine, Lunch Ticket, Antioch University’s cutting-edge literary and visual arts journal, and The Los Angeles Review of Books. His short story, “Negro in a Hot Tub,” is featured in Made in L.A.: An Anthology of Stories Rooted in the City of Angels, written by Los Angeles-based writers. Andre was the fourth pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1984 National Football League draft. He is a member of the NFL Retired Players Association and the NFL Legends Community, and he earned his MFA through the NFL Players Trust tuition reimbursement program. Andre

was born and raised in San Diego and recently moved to Charlotte, NC with his beautiful wife, renowned Buddhist meditation teacher JoAnna Hardy.

https://gofund.me/9ee7bcb33

Son of D.C.
Voice of the Bass
Corcoran Holt—bassist, composer, arranger, and educator—is a son of Washington, D.C. who began playing djembe and West African percussion at the age of four with the Wose Dance Company under Baba Aidoo Holmes and Mahiri Fadjimba Keita. At ten, he took up the upright bass with the D.C. Youth Orchestra Program, discovering a family connection to the instrument through his great-grandfather, a bassist who reportedly gave lessons to a young John Coltrane. While studying classical bass at DCYOP, Holt attended the Duke Ellington School of the Arts (1996–2000), working under Carolyn Kellock, Davey Yarborough, the late Keter Betts, and Steve Novasel, and soon began performing widely on the D.C. jazz scene.

In this episode we discuss his 2026 sophomore album, Freedom of Art, a deeply personal and expansive statement that explores themes of lineage, fatherhood, identity, community, and spiritual growth. Featuring an all-star ensemble, the project blends original compositions with intimate interludes that incorporate the voices of family, mentors, and lived experience. The album has received critical acclaim, including a 4-star review in DownBeat, and continues to resonate with audiences for its honesty, depth, and musical integrity.

https://corcoranholt.com