Page "Alice Coltrane" Paragraph 1

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Alice McLeod studied classical music, and also jazz with Bud Powell in Paris, France, where she worked as the intermission pianist at the Blue Note Club in 1960.

It was there that she was broadcast on French television in a performance with Lucky Thompson, Pierre Michelot and Kenny Clarke.

She began playing jazz as a professional in Detroit, with her own trio and as a duo with vibist Terry Pollard.

She married Kenny Hagood in 1960 and had a daughter by that union.

From 1962-63 she played with Terry Gibbs's quartet, during which time she met John Coltrane.

In 1965 they were married in Juárez, Mexico.

In January 1966 she replaced McCoy Tyner as pianist with John Coltrane's group.

She subsequently recorded with him and continued playing with the band until his death on July 17, 1967.

Coltrane became stepfather to Alice's daughter Michele and the couple had three children: John Jr. ( 1964 – 1982 ), a drummer ; Oranyan ( b. 1967 ), a DJ ; and Ravi ( b. 1965 ), a saxophonist.

After her husband's death she continued to play with her own groups, later including her children, moving into more and more meditative music.

She was one of the few harpists in the history of jazz and recorded many albums as a bandleader.

Her essential recordings were made in the late 1960s and early 1970s for Impulse!

Records.