Alice Coltrane - Journey In Satchidananda

Hunting through local charity shops for vinyl,CDs and tapes the chances of finding anything interesting seem to be becoming increasingly rare lately, although it seems if you're after The Stereophonics or many other Brit Pop also-rans you will hit the mother lode . Now and again if the stars are aligned correctly I get lucky with something like this gem buried in a local Oxfam shop for £1.00 and which I thought would post up here.
My knowledge of Jazz stretches to hearing a teeny bit of Miles Davis and recognizing the names of some of the main players and thats about it so "Journey In Satchidananda" was ,as well as a bargain, a bit of a revelation. These 37 minutes of  "cosmic psychedelic trancendental jazz" was first released  by Alice Coltrane , the wife of John Coltrane, in 1970 . All four tracks have a sort of hypnotic drone thing going on provided by a tamboura in the background accompanied by  oud, saxophone (Pharoah Saunders),bass,drums,bells,tambourine and harp and piano, both of these played by Alice Coltrane. This is not freeform type jazz with weird ,odd time signatures and obscure musical scales or bland noodling lounge jazz ( my previous views on jazz) but should be way easy to get into if you have open mind 'n' ears. At the same time also picked up a Herbie Hancock CD, "Crossroads", which is just as good so may up that at a later date. Any recommendations on a similar trip,send this way.

"I hope this album will be a form of meditation and a spiritual awakening for those who listen with their inner ear.Om shanti."  - Alice Coltrane (from sleeve notes) .HERE.