John Coltrane’s Offering Revisited featuring Ravi Coltrane

with Kris Davis, Robert Hurst, Terri Lyne Carrington and moreOn November 11, 1966, John Coltrane returned to his former hometown of Philadelphia for a performance at Temple University’s Mitten Hall that would become the stuff of legend. The concert, which finally saw a belated release in 2014 as the Grammy-winning Offering: Live at Temple University, took place less than a year prior to Trane’s untimely death the following July, and channels the pain and urgency of that time into one of the most bracing and visceral of the sax giant’s storied career. Not music for the weak of heart or spirit, the concert featured his longtime bandmates pianist Alice Coltrane, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and drummer Rashied Ali, with Philly bassist Sonny Johnson subbing for Jimmy Garrison, with a number of local saxophonists and percussionists sitting in for the occasion. The music became notorious for its harrowing ferocity and for the singular spectacle of Coltrane laying aside his saxophone to express himself through vocalizations and chest-thumping.

“Is [Offering: Live at Temple University] an essential album?” asked JazzTimes in Steve Greenlee’s review. “By God, it is… from this point on, no one can claim to know Coltrane without hearing it.”

Six decades later, Ars Nova Workshop will return to the Temple University campus for a suitably epic commemoration. As part of the ongoing Coltrane 100 celebration of the saxophonist’s centennial, Ars Nova will convene a once-in-a-lifetime ensemble to explore the spirit and impact of that unforgettable performance. Led by pianist and musical director Kris Davis, the all-star band will feature saxophonist and torchbearer Ravi Coltrane, bassist Robert Hurst, and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington – a powerhouse ensemble uniquely suited to grappling with the ghosts and echoes of their legendary forebears.