John Coltrane centenary honored by Dal Sasso Big Band in France

To celebrate the centenary of legendary saxophonist John Coltrane, the Dal Sasso Big Band will perform a series of tribute concerts at the Théâtre Denis in Hyères, France, from October 23 to 25.

Directed by Christophe Dal Sasso, the event features re-orchestrated versions of Coltrane’s major works for a twelve-musician ensemble. The program includes ‘Africa/Brass Revisited’ on October 23 and ‘A Love Supreme Revisited’ on October 24. The final day will involve a live recording of ‘Crescent Revisited,’ with select tracks to be previewed for the audience.

Coltrane’s musical legacy is marked by his evolution from structured jazz to avant-garde experimentation. His career included landmark recordings such as ‘Kind of Blue’ with Miles Davis, ‘Giant Steps,’ and the spiritually significant ‘A Love Supreme.’ While his move toward free improvisation sometimes alienated commercial audiences, it established him as a transformative figure in the genre.