Thoughts on the sublime

I have a new (relatively) iPod Shuffle that I keep randomly restocked from a digital library that currently approaches 5,500 songs, mostly jazz and blues, and listening to the iPod walking to lunch today it came up with “Giant Steps,” causing me to pull the full CD out for a listen on the Denon.

I was struck again by the power and beauty of Coltrane’s playing and by the realization that sometimes music and musicians become famous for their obvious sublimity, as in the case of “Giant Steps.” A nice thought in this era of lip-syncing, modular divas.

The Shuffle must have liked it, too. It came up with “Blue Train” right after. Also sublime.