Schedule

5:30-6:30 pm - Sam will play a musical lead-up playlist of artists that inspired or have been inspired by John Coltrane, including Kamasi Washington, Flying Lotus, Brandford Marsalis, and Robert Glasper. Free Sam-made Lemonade and Dark Matter Coffee coffee is available to attendees. It's also BYOB.

6:35 pm - Sam gives presentation on A Love Supreme, detailing its recording process and content

6:45 pm - Sam drops the needle on A Love Supreme

Classic Album Sundays, the most popular and respected classic album listening event in the world, is setting up shop in Chicago to expose your ears to a spiritually-charged musical experience like no other. Saturday Audio Exchange, CHIRP Radio, Dark Matter Coffee, and event organizer Sam Willett will be celebrating the legacy of John Coltrane's A Love Supreme by listening to it in its entirety on vinyl.

A Love Supreme is a spiritual work, one that pursues a deeper meaning. Coltrane admitted that he didn’t own his talent but was channelling a higher power. He had the discipline, the tools, and technique, but the actual music seemed to happen by itself. Archie Shepp who played tenor sax on alternate takes of “Acknowledgement” reflects, “I see it as a powerful, spiritual work that really confirms John’s connection to the Afro-American church. These things seem to refer to personal commitment to a supreme being.” New York Times jazz critic and author of Coltrane: The Story of a Sound Ben Ratliff views this 1965 album as “the fulcrum of his career, setting the outline for understanding both his past and future work.”

Saturday Audio Exchange, a well-renowned Chicago independent music dealer, will be providing a custom-curated hi-fi audio system to make this experience come to life on vinyl. In attending the event, you will listen to the album as if you are watching a movie- no phones, no distractions, and complete focus on the beauty engrained in A Love Supreme. Take a look at the sound equipment Classic Album Sundays typically uses at their events here. 

When the event starts, a vinyl-exclusive playlist, including artists that influenced and have been influenced by John Coltrane will be played. Attendees should take this warm up time to take a look around Saturday Audio Exchange, visit with our event partners, socialize with new and old friends, and drink beverages. When we have a full house, we will give attendees a ten minute warning to use to the bathroom and make any phone calls before the album starts. Then, Sam will introduce the album drop the needle. From there, your mind should be completely involved with the album and prepared for a musical adventure.