John Coltrane, in his own words...

John Coltrane rarely took interviews. As he admits in the one above, "I don't talk much, you know, but you've got me talking." Most jazz fans would immediately recognize Coltrane's unique sound on the saxophone. But this rare Coltrane interview gives fans something unfamiliar: the sound of his actual voice. Taped in 1965, right after the A Love Supreme Session, Coltrane opens up (to an extent) on truth and spirituality, as well as current events, such as the Vietnam War.

The 50th Anniversary of A Love Supreme at SFJAZZ, curated by Ravi Coltrane, takes place December 10-14, 2014.

'A Love Supreme' 50th Anniversary

The iconic portrait… from John Coltrane’s 1962 session w/ Duke Ellington, taken by Bob Thiele. Thiele recounts:

"[Coltrane] wasn't smiling and he said, ‘Who took this picture?’ I figured 'My God, he’s going to kill me that these are so terrible.' But before I could say I took the picture, he said, 'This is the best picture of me, ever.'"

50 years ago today, John Coltrane's Quartet recorded A Love Supreme in just one session at Van Gelder Studios in Englewood Cliffs, NJ. We celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Coltrane’s iconic album all week long (12/10-14), paying homage not only to the recording itself, but Trane's lasting influence on all music. Curated by son Ravi Coltrane, the week features author Ashley Kahn (A Love Supreme: The Story of John Coltrane's Signature Album), saxophonist Joe Lovano, pianist Geri Allen, Turtle Island String Quartet, Steven Ellison, Nicholas Payton, Steve Coleman and Ravi himself!

You can find a wealth of news on the 50 year mark below:

50 Years Of John Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme' via NPR

Why John Coltrane’s ‘A Love Supreme’ Is Still a Musical Revelation via KQED

Sacred tributes in S.F. to Coltrane’s 'A Love Supreme’ via SF Chronicle

SFJAZZ Revisits A Love Supreme via SF Weekly

Details on A Love Supreme 50th Anniversary Celebration at sfjazz.org.

SFJAZZ Center One-Year Anniversary, Pt.2

After a clinic with the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars earlier this week, Resident Artistic Director Bill Frisell reflected, "So much has happened in a year. It seems impossible. I said, 'Wait, that's two years!' It just seems like an incredible bunch of stuff happened." In recognition of the SFJAZZ Center's One-Year Anniversary, SFJAZZ Members get 25% off all of Bill Frisell's shows this weekend, starting with his debut of the Big Sur Quintet tonight!

To continue celebrating the Center's One-Year Anniversary, below is a collection of photo-highlights, spanning from the Historic Grand Opening, Season 1, the 31st San Francisco Jazz Festival, the first annual Summer Sessions and Season 2, still underway!

Opening Day: John Santos and High School All-Star Alum Laila Smith cutting the ribbon!

One of three tile murals by Sandow Birk & Elyse Pignolet

Opening Night: The Founding Donors Wall

Season 1: Juan de Marcos & Afro-Cuban Allstars

Season 1: Hiromi's Trio Project

Season 1: Jason Moran & Skateboarding

Season 1: Miguel Zenon's Alma Aldentro

SFJAZZ Photographer Laureate Jim Goldberg installing his "Prized Possession"

SFJAZZ Poet Laureate Ishmael Reed in front of his

"When I Die, I Will Go To Jazz" art installation in Linden Alley

31st San Francisco Jazz Festival: Ahmad Jamal Trio

Summer Sessions: Eric Harland's Drum Vibe

Season 2: Terence Blanchard Quintet w/ Lionel Loueke

Season 2: SFJAZZ Collective w/ new members Warren Wolf & Obed Calvaire

Season 2: Buika

Hotplate Series: Robert Stewart & Chester Thompson play Jimmy Smith

Season 2: The Robert Glasper Experiment

POTUS: Redman, Spalding, Obama, Pinderhughes, Hancock + Morans

Season 2: Regina Carter / Kenny Barron duo

Season 2: Dave Holland's Prism w/ Eric Harland, Kevin Eubanks & Craig Taborn

Season 2: Mary Stallings / Eric Reed duo

More information at sfjazz.org. See more photos at SFJAZZ Flickr, or follow us on Instagram!

SFJAZZ Center Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

One year ago today, the SFJAZZ Center opened its doors to the public! Two days afterward, SFJAZZ hosted an unprecedented Grand Opening Concert followed by two weeks of sold out, timeless concerts christening the stage of Robert N. Miner Auditorium. The Grand Opening Concert itself featured McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Bill Cosby, Bobby Hutcherson, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano, Joshua Redman, SFJAZZ Artistic Directors (Bill Frisell, John Santos, Miguel Zenón, Regina Carter & Jason Moran), SFJAZZ Collective, Mary Stallings, Eric Reed, Eric Harland & the award-winning SFJAZZ High School All-Stars! Good thing NPR filmed it.

It's been a whirlwind since! Check out some highlights from Grand Opening week.

SFJAZZ Center on Opening Night

Chick Corea, Esperanza Spalding & Jeff Ballard

The Red Carpet

The SFJAZZ Collective

Bill Cosby, Miguel Zenón & Pete Escovedo's Band

SFJAZZ High School All-Stars

SFJAZZ Poet Laureate Ishmael Reed

Joshua Redman, Joe Lovano, Matt Penman, Jeff Ballard & John Santos

Herman Leonard Photography Installation

McCoy Tyner & Bobby Hutcherson

Robert N. Miner Auditorium, Opening Week

Esperanza Spalding & Eric Harland

Mary Stallings

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, After Party at the Rickshaw Stop

Last Thursday, singer Mary Stallings put simply while reflecting on the SFJAZZ Center: "All the great ones who didn't make it. I know they're looking down right now and saying, 'YES!'" In recognition of the Center's One-Year Anniversary, SFJAZZ Members enjoy a 25% discount to all of Bill Frisell's shows this coming weekend!

More photos of the Grand Opening, Season 1, 31st San Francisco Jazz Festival, 2013 Summer Sessions and Season 2 at SFJAZZ Flickr.