About this Event
The culminates in this day-long event featuring moderated panel discussions, a dramatic reading, music, and more — in celebration of the life and music of John William Coltrane.
Free with RSVP
All Ages
- Pre-registration with advance RSVP required.
- For program schedule and additional information please visit the Ars Nova Workshop website.
Featuring
Symposium Panelists
- Nia I’man Smith, Jamal Moore, James Phillips, Dr. C. O. Simpkins, Bill Cole, Dr. Karlton Hester, Dr. Greg Carr
Alfie Pollitt All-Star Quartet
- Alfie Pollitt – piano
- Nasir Dickerson – saxophone
- Richard Hill – bass
- Alan Nelson – drums
Theatre in the X's Carlo Campbell performs Dear Listener
The highlight of this year’s symposium will be two panel discussions about Coltrane’s music and life. The opening panel includes discussions between ethnomusicologist Nia I’man Smith; composer, multi-instrumentalist, and educator, Jamal Moore; and artist-educator and AfriCobra member, James Phillips.
Our second panel will feature three biographers on John Coltrane. Scholar and musician, Karlton Hester will join two of the earliest biographers on Trane: Bill Cole and Dr. C.O. Simpkins. Cole and Simpkins have not been in conversion in over thirty years. We are honored to bring them together along with Hester to learn about their approaches and research to bringing Coltrane’s life, music and beliefs to a wider audience.
Keynote speaker Dr. Greg Carr will walk us through the historical and musical narrative of Coltrane and his musical foundations. This year’s symposium will also include a dramatic reading of Dear Listener from Carlo Campbell of Theatre in the X. Dear Listener, a play conceived and written by Anyabwile Love, takes place just days after Coltrane records A Love Supreme and imagines his reflections on his life and musical career as he visits his mother and Cousin Mary in Philadelphia. Our four days of events will conclude in the only way imaginable: with a musical performance by Alfie Pollitt and his All-Star Quartet.
Complete program schedule and information coming soon.
The Woodlands
The Woodlands’ 54-acre undulating landscape is at once an 18th-century English pleasure garden, an active 19th-century rural cemetery, and a modern-day green oasis for the communities of West Philadelphia. Please note before planning your visit:
- Guests can arrive by foot, bike, or public transit.
- Limited on-site parking is available for some events.
- Please bring your own lawn chair or blanket for outdoor seating.
Accessibility
Should you require accessible entry or seating for this program, please contact The Woodlands at [email protected] or 215-386-2181 at your earliest convenience.
COVID-19
Special COVID-19 admission guidelines are being followed to ensure a safe environment for all guests at The Woodlands.
- Masks are required for all indoor spaces.
- Please wear a mask and maintain social distancing while in line for the Stable Restroom.
- Please respect other visitors and the Site Rules found on The Woodlands website.
Cover: John Coltrane's "Circle of Tones," a drawing by John Coltrane reputedly given by the artist to Yusef Lateef, backstage between sets at a shared gig sometime during the 1960's. The drawing was later included in the introduction to Lateef's iconic book, Repository of Scales and Melodic Patterns (1981), from which this scanned image was produced.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
The Woodlands, 4000 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, United States
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