It was just another recording session for three of the musicians involved. But A Love Supreme, the album that the John Coltrane Quartet committed to tape in that session just before Christmas 1964, has influenced musicians across the world and down through the generations. Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival is staging a celebration to mark the 60th anniversary of its release, featuring four leading musicians from Scotland’s thriving young jazz scene: Fergus McCreadie, Ewan Hastie and Graham Costello with Harry Weir on the saxophone. 

Coltrane’s own quartet was a working band. At the time of recording the album, he was on the road for 45 weeks a year with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones. When they went to record A Love Supreme, they had been booked for an evening session (7pm to midnight) and were given basic instructions. Coltrane told them the key and tempo, and while received wisdom says that the whole album was improvised, Coltrane apparently had its form mapped out in his head: he trusted his guys to support him. The studio lights were dimmed, possibly to give musicians the sensation that they were performing in a club, and they set to work.

Released the month after it was recorded, A Love Supreme changed their status. Although it took until 2021 to rack up a million sales in the US, it sold sufficiently well on release for the musicians to be recognised in the street. The album also touched rock musicians: The Byrds, Grateful Dead and Carlos Santana (who worked with Coltrane’s widow Alice) felt its power. It’s even been ‘covered’ by a string quartet. And while tenor saxophonists in particular have picked up the baton, its influence, like the pan-religious message Coltrane was imparting through his music, has been and continues to be universal.

A Love Supreme, The Famous Spiegeltent, 14 July, 6pm.