John Coltrane Centennial

Presented in collaboration with Ten Speed Press (an imprint of Penguin Random House) as they publish Coltrane: The Definitive Visual Celebration of the Legend, music historian and Coltrane scholar Ashley Kahn, music critic and Clive Davis Institute faculty member Naima Cochrane, harpist, composer and bandleader Brandee Younger, and master saxophonist and composer David Murray join us for an intimate conversation about Coltrane’s life and lasting influence. Music from across Coltrane's catalog and featured on forthcoming retrospectives will also be played during the event.

Coltrane: The Definitive Visual Celebration of the Legend is a photographic celebration of John Coltrane's life and music edited and overseen by John’s son, Ravi Coltrane, the book features over 200 expertly curated images captured by renowned photographers such as Chuck Stewart, Francis Wolff, Jim Marshall, and Jean Pierre Leloir, alongside exclusive new essays on Coltrane’s life, legacy, and influence written by Wayne Coyne, Dev Hynes, Phil Lesh, Julie Mehretu, Carlos Santana, Patti Smith, and Ravi Coltrane. It includes dozens of never-before-seen photos of Coltrane onstage, in the studio, on tour, and at home.

More than 58 years after his passing, John Coltrane remains one of the most vital and influential figures in modern culture. His music is probing, spiritual, endlessly exploratory, and continues to reach new listeners, transcending genre, generation, and geography. In 2026, the Coltrane Estate marks the 100th anniversary of the musician’s birth with COLTRANE 100, an ambitious, year-long global celebration honoring an artist whose work permanently reshaped the language, ambition, and purpose of music.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Penguin Random House.