Kirtan: Turiya Sings cover

Kirtan: Turiya Sings

Alice Coltrane · 2021

58 min · 9 tracks · jazz

A spiritual journey blending jazz improvisation with devotional chants, creating an ethereal soundscape that transcends traditional genre boundaries.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    Jagadishwar — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its meditative atmosphere, featuring intricate instrumental layers that invite deep contemplation.
  • →
    Govinda Hari — In this track, the interplay between Coltrane's harp and the vocal chants creates a transcendent experience, highlighting her unique ability to blend instrumentation with spirituality.
  • →
    Rama Katha — The extended length allows for extensive improvisation, showcasing Coltrane’s capacity for spiritual expression through music while engaging listeners in a profound narrative journey.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental
69 /100
Alpine
Higher than 94% of albums we've rated

The album's blend of jazz improvisation and devotional chants creates a unique soundscape that stands out in contemporary music.

What we noticed

  • Each track features extended improvisation, often with a focus on modal jazz structures that allow for fluid exploration.
  • Several tracks incorporate call-and-response patterns typical of kirtan, blending spiritual chants with instrumental passages.
Composition 25% of the score
8/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
6/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
9/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • long, immersive listening sessions
  • steady, consistent energy levels
  • contemplative spiritual exploration
  • gradual builds and payoffs

Where this album fits

Career context
Released posthumously in 2021, Kirtan: Turiya Sings encapsulates Alice Coltrane's final artistic direction, following her earlier explorations of spirituality through music. This album highlights her deep commitment to Indian philosophy and music, showcasing a culmination of her life's work as both a musician and spiritual seeker.
Stylistic neighbors
Pharoah Sanders· Sun Ra· Don Cherry

Moments worth listening for

Where the writing does something specific.

  • Krishna Krishna

    The repetition of divine names transitions from call-and-response patterns to an immersive chant that envelops the listener.

    This shift emphasizes communal participation and evokes a sense of unity, transforming the recording space into a sacred gathering.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Jagadishwar 6:28
  • 2 Jai Rama Chandra 6:04
  • 3 Krishna Krishna 5:10
  • 4 Rama Katha 11:41
  • 5 Yamuna Tira Vihari 6:07
  • 6 Charanam 6:18
  • 7 Govinda Hari 5:21
  • 8 Hara Sira 6:28
  • 9 Prandhana 4:27

What to play next

Carnegie Hall '71
Go back to

Carnegie Hall '71

2018
Full Alice Coltrane discography Artists like Alice Coltrane
jazz

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata