“Everything I do is an offering to God - that’s the truth.” - Alice Coltrane
Part of the Dolls Pod mission statement is to spotlight a remarkable woman each episode. That description certainly applies to this week’s subject. First she was Alice McLeod, a single Black woman working on the jazz circuit in New York, Paris, and her home city of Detroit. Then she was Alice Coltrane, John’s muse and partner in free jazz exploration. After John passed at the height of the Summer of Love, Alice was called first to India, then California on a spiritual journey; establishing her own ashram as Swamini Turiyasangitananda. Pursuing just one of these life paths would be remarkable. In just 69 years, Alice somehow pursued all three; transcending all limitations placed on her, internal and external.
(Episode starts at 5:42)
Sources:
Andy Beta, “Cosmic Music: The Life, Art, and Transcendence of Alice Coltrane” (2026)
Alice Coltrane, “Monument Eternal” (2025 ed.)
Franya J. Berkman, “Monument Eternal: The Music of Alice Coltrane” (2010)
Chris Devito, “Coltrane on Coltrane: The John Coltrane Interviews” (2010) https://archive.org/details/coltraneoncoltra0000unse
Lewis Porter, “John Coltrane: His Life and Music” (1998) https://archive.org/details/johncoltranehisl0000port
“Alice Coltrane” Black Journal, 1970, via The John & Alice Coltrane Home https://thecoltranehome.org/alice-coltrane-documentary/
NPR: Jazz Night in America, “Saint Coltrane: The Church Built on ‘A Love Supreme’” (dir. Lauren Onkey, 2/2/2021) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAgJ-igwuSQ
“Eternity's Pillar - Hosted by Alice Coltrane Swamini Turiyasangitananda” via dublab on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3MkhsePVJE
Andy Beta, “Transfiguration and Transcendence: The Music of Alice Coltrane” Pitchfork, 1/12/2017 https://pitchfork.com/features/from-the-pitchfork-review/10009-transfiguration-and-transcendence-the-music-of-alice-coltrane
Songs used in this episode:
Dizzy Gillespie - “A Night in Tunisia” (1954)
Bud Powell - “Groovin’ High” (1961)
The Premiers - “When You Are In Love” (1957)
The Terry Gibbs Quartet featuring Alice McLeod - “Sol Right With Me” (1963)
John Coltrane - “Giant Steps” (1960)
John Coltrane - “Africa” (1961)
Irving Berlin - “Always” (sang by Lewis James) [1925]
John Coltrane - “Your Lady” (Live at Birdland) [1964]
John Coltrane - “A Love Supreme, Part I: Acknowledgement” (1965)
John Coltrane - “My Favorite Things” (Live from the Village Vanguard) [1966]
Alice Coltrane - “Ohnedaruth” (1968)
Alice Coltrane - “Journey in Satchidananda” (1971)
John Coltrane - “Om” (1968)
Alice Coltrane - “Ptah, the El-Daoud” (1970)
Alice Coltrane - “Shiva Loka” (1971)
John Coltrane - “A Love Supreme, Part III: Pursuance” (1965)
Alice Coltrane - “Jagadishwar” (1982)
Flying Lotus - “Auntie’s Harp” (2008)
Alice Coltrane - “A Love Supreme” (Live at Jazz Jamboree with Roy Hanes, Reggie Workman, and Ravi Coltrane) [1987]
Follow @thedollspod on Instagram to see clips and videos from this episode!