The music of John Coltrane expresses a sound and quality that is intense and searching, infused with a relentless quest to uplift and touch the spirit. From his early collaborations with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, through his epic masterpiece “A Love Supreme,” and all the way to his final studio recording, “Expressions,” Trane’s journey was probing and titanic and forever altered the course of music, well beyond the parameters of what is called Jazz.   

Inspired by Trane’s legendary music and his angelic spirit, Ian Dogole and his world-class collaborators present The Last Trane to Africa – an Afrocentric homage to John Coltrane. Utilizing an unusual array of African percussion instruments and other world percussion in concert with more traditional Jazz instruments such as piano, double bass, and saxophones, listeners will enjoy a transcendent musical experience that intends to uplift the spirit and delight the senses.

Musicians:

Ian Dogole – udu, djembes, floor tom, ankle bells, cymbals, maracas llaneras, African talking drum, kalimba & misc. percussion

Richard Howell – tenor saxophone (“Africa,” “Out of This World,” “Tunji” & “Dahomey Dance,” soprano saxophone (“John Coltrane” & “Afro Blue”), vocals (“John Coltrane”)

Frank Martin – piano

Sheldon Brown – tenor saxophone (“John Coltrane” & “Out of This World”), soprano saxophone (“Africa”) & bass clarinet (“Dahomey Dance”)

Fred Randolph – double bass (“Africa,” “Out of This World,” “John Coltrane” & “Dahomey Dance”)

Gary Brown – double bass (“Tunji” & “Afro Blue”)

David Frazier – shakers & bells, tambora (“Tunji” & “Afro Blue”)

Avotcja – poetry (“Tunji”)

Recording Engineers:

Jim Bennett (“Tunji”) – Recorded live at The Oaktown Jazz Workshops in Oakland, CA on September 23, 2023

Adrian Wong (“Afro Blue”) – Recorded live at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, CA on January 20, 2024

Gabriel Shepard (“Africa” & “John Coltrane”) – Recorded at 25th Street Recording in Oakland, CA on August 5, 2024

David Luke (“Out of This World” & “Dahomey Dance”) – Recorded at Ninth Street Opus in Berkeley, CA on June 13 & 14, 2025

Warren Kahn – Mix Engineer