A New Collection of Alice Coltrane’s Ashram Recordings is Set for Release

Recorded in 1981, the songs on Kirtan: Turiya Sings were originally distributed amongst Coltrane’s ashram attendees on cassette.

A new batch of devotional recordings from the late Alice Coltrane will soon receive their first issue beyond the walls of the spiritual jazz giant’s ashram community.

As a part of Impulse! Records/UMe’s 60th-anniversary reissue campaign, a collection of nine songs originally distributed on cassette for attendees of Coltrane’s Vedantic Center in the mountains of Malibu, will be released for the first time ever on the upcoming posthumous album, Kirtan: Turiya Sings. The songs featured on the album were remixed from the original master tapes by Coltrane’s son, Ravi, who stripped the recordings bare, save for Coltrane’s Vedic chants and a lone Wurlitzer organ.

“On this album, your ear will be turned toward the sound of the blues, to gospel, to the Black American church, often combined with the Carnatic singing style of southern India. You will hear beautiful harmonies influenced by Alice’s Detroit/Motown roots, her bebop roots, John Coltrane’s impact, and her absorption of European classical music, particularly that of her favorite: Igor Stravinsky,” says Ravi of the release in a statement. “As her son, growing up and hearing her playing these songs on the very same Wurlitzer you hear on this recording, I recognize this choice maintains the purity and essence of Alice’s musical and spiritual vision. In many ways, this new clarity brings these chants to an even higher place,” Ravi adds.

Ahead of the project’s July 16th drop, “Krishna Krishna,” a song from Kirtan: Turiya Sings has been released, glimpsing the powerful minimalism of Ravi’s treatments for his mother’s recordings.

Hear Alice Coltrane’s “Krishna Krishna” below. Scroll on to see the full Kirtan: Turiya Sings tracklist along with the album’s cover. Head over to Center Stage to pre-order your copy on vinyl.

Kirtan: Turiya Sings Tracklist:
1. Jagadishwar
2. Jai Ramachandra
3. Krishna Krishna
4. Rama Katha
5. Yamuna Tira Vihari
6. Charanam
7. Govindi Hara
8. Hara Siva
9. Pranadhana