And we are just that, Infinite

 

S o m e  say she’s a tease, I liken her more of a flirt. Indecisive, sporadically hot and cold, and always alluring - she’s the type to keep you waiting, and is in fact, always worth it. Blood pumpingly warm and gentle, her caresses tickled my skin through my lavender, pink, and blue multi-colored mesh shirt. Her embrace amplified my Cedrat 37 perfume adding a subtle sweetness to the seduction of her presence. After playing the illusive game for weeks she was finally here to stay a while. I long for her light after extended absences. She brings with her an air of mischief and adventure that’s virtually undeniable, and when asked to come out and play - She always gets her way.  Summer and I pulled up to Elm City Sounds for an afternoon of digging with Don. 

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If you can’t tell, I’m heavy on the sensory. I found myself instantly smitten with the inviting atmosphere of the quaint and gem filled space. Much like bookstores, record shops tend to have a smell and energy that feels like home to me. The dry aroma of ink and paper, the crackle of a record being spun, the rising and falling of voices eager to share lesser known knowledge from lister to listener. The swing of the door pulled in the sticky & sweet heat of the New Haven streets. Another black woman was heading out as I was heading in and her soothing lavender colored shirt and mid-length braids instantly brought me to smile with familial ease. We exchanged pleasantries while both simultaneously eye catching a RZA single peeking out of a crate nearby. I spotted an old lover posted in the corner…oh the Jazz section. An early pressing of Miles Davis’s 1974 ‘Big Fun’ album whispered to me from the wall. I sauntered over to a Sarah Vaughn and was also graciously greeted by Sun-Ra. 

It was his familiar presence that alerted me of his arrival but his hand on my waist brought me back into the present. Don, with a huge grin on his face, knew he’d picked the perfect place for us to link for the afternoon. Our friendship and love for music both run parallel and deep. We dug and dug, fingertips getting dusty, adrenaline pumping as we unearthed nuggets of nostalgia and sonic diamonds. That’s when he brought it over to me - wrapped in purples, pinks, and blues - a seemingly thematic and coincidental kaleidoscope of colors surrounded a somewhat shadowed photo of a face I know all too well.  Embolden yellow font mystically read “All new recordings never previously available / John Coltrane with string orchestra arranged and conducted by Alice Coltrane - INFINITY." Don and I locked eyes with only an astonished silence between us. An anomaly in both our mental catalogues it was an instant cop - and one I will never regret.

I’ve since played it during some of my most creation fueled moments.  I’ve meditated to it, I’ve had it playing softly in the background during my morning prayers. I’ve written to it. Spiritually and sonically a beautiful melding of Johns runs with Alices signature synths and strings ‘INFINITY’ is exactly what this feels like. This posthumous release of John’s work reworked by his wife and phenomenal musician alike, Alice, was met with criticism - not surprising of course, as some critics just don’t know what they’re talking about. Alice’s rebuttal of such served as a “what’s understood doesn’t need to be explained” type lovers mantra amongst musics most cosmic couple. I am, and always will be here for it.