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Episode details

Radio 3,24 Sep 2026,14 mins

SeriesColtrane's Sound

Lakecia Benjamin

The Essay

Available for over a year

The sound of the jazz musician John Coltrane can be many things: urgent, joyful, contemplative and deeply spiritual. This year marks the 100th anniversary of Coltrane’s birth. During his career, his music revolutionised jazz but also enriched many other styles of music. For The Essay, music historian Ashley Kahn meets some of the world’s greatest musicians and composers from classical music, jazz, hip-hop and rock to explore how Coltrane’s sound changed their work. In this episode, Grammy-nominated saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin explains how she finds inspiration in Coltrane's music. Presenter: Ashley Kahn Executive Producer: Leo Hornak Editor: Cathy FitzGerald Sound Designer: Mike Woolley An Ictus Media production for BBC Radio 3

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