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What are your thoughts about the many predictions in the Bible like Jesus’ return?
We take them all so literally, and are waiting for Christ to come a second time. Christ has returned many times. Unfortunately, we the people did not remember his statement, when it is written, “Those that have ears, let them hear. Those that have eyes, let them see. I am here.” Yes, this means, hear and see me as I am. Christ is saying, “I do not look like your interpretation of me, and I do not return according to your design or idea of me.” Christian historians would have faltered and the American and other churches worldwide would have failed long ago with his presence.
My understanding is that the Christ spirit is in all of us and it is love. Jesus taught that we could do works even greater than his did if we would give our life to God, have faith in his Father and learn to love one another. Sounds so simple, so easy, but we don’t understand it or trust it and more than anything what humanity is struggling to evolve to. Living love, giving birth to the Christ spirit in us, isn’t that the whole purpose of meditation?
Yes, that is it. Give your heart to God and continue to love your family, friends and elders; however, remember that these relationships are all temporary and transitory. No matter how great or small, they will come to an end. And yet, God never leaves you, neither forsakes you, nor betrays you. When you give your heart to God, it is accepted and honored.
Were you leaning toward Eastern philosophy and religion before you met John?
Not at all. John was already interested in Eastern philosophy. Even though his family was Christian, he studied various other faiths, everything from metaphysics, Cabala, Hindu mysticism, Sufism, Buddhism, Islam and Judaism to numerology and astrology. In the early sixties John was very much interested in
meditation and in the different ways people throughout the world honor God.
When and how did you two meet?
It was at Birdland in New York City, 1963. I played piano with the Terry Gibbs band, and the John Coltrane Quartet was the headliner. Backstage there was a small seating area for musicians. John
would always be sitting at the farthest end, and I would take my seat at the opposite end. He had a pensive, contemplative aura, such a quietness and peace about him that I didn’t speak to him because I didn’t want to disrupt this peace.
After about three days, we did speak, and I was highly impressed by his calm mannerisms, his beautiful hands, his serene face, eyes and smile, and his soft, gentle voice. I felt wonderful. It was a joy to converse with him. He talked about music, art, architecture, science in terms of Einstein’s theory of relativity, yoga, vegetarianism and so much more.
How did the romance begin? Did you open your hearts to each other immediately?
Absolutely! It was a different day, a new day in our lives. Some years later I recall his saying, “Years ago, I had dreamed of you, not knowing that someday we would meet.” I will never forget one particular moment backstage. I was walking down the corridor and totally unbeknownst to me John was following me with
his horn, and he began playing “Always.” That was John’s tender and charismatic way of expressing his thoughts through song.
The brilliance of John Coltrane—Amiri Baraka has referred to him as the heaviest spirit in the universe. My husband, Khephra, says when he first heard Meditations he cried. What do
you think John was saying through his music?
He was saying, “Dedicate your life to God, for all is with God.” He’d had a spiritual experience and this pointed all of his musical endeavors toward A Love Supreme. And despite his receiving accolades from peers, prestigious awards, a Grammy and worldwide acclaim, John dedicated himself completely to God
through such albums as Om and Meditations, and songs like “Dear Lord,” “Offering,” “Peace on Earth,” “Song of Praise,” and so many other spiritual compositions.
What would you say he was trying to give?
John knew that music fundamentally is a spiritual language that speaks to the heart and soul. Unfortunately, everyone cannot go to the mountain, or to isolation. But through music, people can go within their own heart and let their spirit soar, and maybe say, “Lord, at least through spiritual sound, I could possibly reach that open door that leads to your sacred domain.” I felt that through John’s compositions, and the sound of his instrument, this could pave the way to the righteous path, giving us a time for spiritual reflection, concentration, upliftment and revitalization. In India, there is a Name of God known as Nadabrahma. It means God as sound. God is sound.
John was deeply affected by the need for peace in the world; and he wanted to utilize his music as his elders had done in the church. Not necessarily from the pulpit, but from a platform that could serve as an outreach to many more souls that those who followed his music. He respected the faiths of others, and I don’t believe people knew how deep his thoughts were on the subject of salvation, liberation and God realization, and that he believed in love toward all mankind with and the effort to relieve pain and suffering.
Although John was already revered as a pioneer in artistic expression and improvisation, some jazz critics blamed you for the change in his music, saying you led him toward the avant-garde and caused the breakup of the famous John Coltrane Quartet with Jimmy Garrison on bass, Elvin Jones on drums and McCoy Tyner on piano.
I was committed to just being there for whatever purpose I could serve. I didn’t have to inspire John to go into the avant-garde field. He led that way on his own. The man was a genius, he didn’t need anything from me. And that’s why it’s so interesting that critics decided to dislike me. At a point McCoy Tyner stated it was time for a change, time for him to leave. And this is what they all did. They left on their own. When John said he wanted me to play with him, on piano, I told him there were many others who were qualified. He said, “I want you there because you can do it.” It was a wonderful, a beautiful response from him and I was astounded. He could have chosen from among many fine pianists from around the world.
You were a child prodigy, and John surely appreciated your mastery as a pianist.
John and I did have a wonderful time making music together. We’d sit at the piano and go through Stravinsky and Schoenberg and Copland, and the children would be around us running and playing.
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