Exploring Spiritual Jazz of the 1970s
Is 'A Love Supreme' the Best Spiritual Jazz Album Ever Created?
More than fifty years ago, spiritual jazz emerged as a transformative force in music. Drawing from the improvisational essence of traditional jazz, this subgenre reached for something deeper—blending the sacred and the experimental into a cosmic journey of sound. Influenced by global traditions, like African and Eastern spirituality and 70s counterculture, spiritual jazz served as both a reflection of the times and a vehicle for transcendence. It also borrowed themes from current events. If you’ve ever felt like jazz was a mystical experience, spiritual jazz is the gateway to go beyond the universe…
What is Spiritual Jazz?
Spiritual jazz is jazz with purpose—it reaches for the soul. It’s a bridge between the earthly struggles of many and the cosmic awareness that subconsciously lives within all of us. Shaped by the socio-political trouble of the 1960s and 70s, issues like civil rights and the search for cultural identity infused music with a new urgency. The influence of John Coltrane, particularly his landmark album ‘A Love Supreme’ cannot be overstated. It's hard to believe it was released sixty years ago this month by Impulse Records (1965). His deep spirituality inspired countless musicians to look inward and upward, exploring transcendence, unity, and themes of freedom. Spiritual Jazz incorporates non-Western musical traditions like African rhythms, Indian ragas, and Middle Eastern melodies. All of these elements ground the music in what feels like ancient wisdom, while its improvisational nature opens the door to uncharted territory and further exploration.
Defining Albums of the Decade
Pharoah Sanders, Karma (Impulse, 1969)
Karma, released just before the 1970s, set the tone for the decade. Sanders' best work, ‘The Creator Has a Master Plan,’ is a sprawling, 32-minute meditation on harmony and joy. His use of over-the-top saxophone notes and vocal chants might take you to a higher place.
Alice Coltrane, Journey in Satchidananda (Impulse, 1971)
Alice Coltrane, a harpist, pianist, and composer, brought spiritual jazz into celestial territory. This album is a tribute to her guru, Swami Satchidananda, who was not controversial at the time… It blends Indian instrumentation (sitar, tambura) with hypnotic basslines and flowing harp melodies.
Sun Ra, Space Is the Place (Verve Records, 1973)
Sun Ra’s Afrocentric cosmic philosophy permeates this album, where jazz becomes an otherworldly spectacle. By mixing free jazz, chant, and space-age synths, Sun Ra invites listeners to imagine utopia.
Yusef Lateef, The Gentle Giant (Atlantic, 1972)
A pioneer in fusing jazz with non-Western sounds, ‘The Gentle Giant’ incorporates oboe, shenai, and other non-traditional instruments to craft a meditative and sometimes groovy soundscape.
Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes, Cosmic Funk (RCA, 1974)
This album merges spiritual jazz with funk, creating a danceable, uplifting sound. Tracks like ‘Cosmic Funk’ and ‘Peaceful Ones’ balance the terrestrial with the celestial. Dig it!
McCoy Tyner, Enlightenment (Milestone, 1973)
An album recorded live at the 1973 Montreux Jazz Festival—it’s one every jazz fan should hear, especially the grand finale, ‘Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit,’ clocking in at 24 minutes long. Tyner’s piano playing has never been more intense.
The 1970s were a turning point marked by civil rights, anti-war movements, and a global awakening to environmental and spiritual concerns. Spiritual jazz reflected this and embodied humanity's interconnectedness and the quest for (inner) peace. For many Black artists, it was also a reclamation of African heritage, using music to connect with ancestral roots. It might be odd to think this now, but the genre initially found a home in the New Age movement, appealing to listeners seeking a deeper connection to the universe and themselves. It was music as a tool for meditation, protest, and exploration. Some pieces might sound dissonant but reflected the times and what was happening. Other times, Spiritual Jazz sounds serene, minimal, and simply beautiful — either way, it was always full of emotion.
🎷 A Gateway to Spiritual Jazz
Explore the world of Spiritual Jazz with this 12-song playlist I created on both QoBuz and Spotify.
What is QoBuz? It’s a French-owned music streaming service built on the expert recommendations of real music lovers. Every week, discover the new releases and playlists selected by their international team of music lovers. Available in both 24-bit Hi-Res and CD-quality sound. Spotify is more well-known, but my subscription is coming to an end. More on that later…
Today, spiritual jazz continues to resonate. Its themes of transcendence, unity, and freedom still feel relevant. Artists like Kamasi Washington, Shabaka Hutchings, Matthew Halsall, and the late Pharoah Sanders have carried the torch into the 21st century. Explore this playlist above, close your eyes, and let the music guide you. The last track is from my favorite album, released in 2024 by The Cosmic Tones Research Trio. This album sometimes brings me to tears—it’s just so beautiful. Give the album a listen, and let me know what you think.
Spiritual jazz can help you find meditation, inspiration, or a new song. It’s an absolutely fascinating world of music.
- JB