Chasin' the Trane

The Gig, Sept. 2011

Comments

[Joshua Milstein]

Dear Nate Chinen,

This note has been a long time coming, as there have been several occasions in the past year when I have meant to tell you how much I appreciate your work.

I am a native Philadelphian, now living in exile in Western Massachusetts, where I am an adjunct professor. In the late 90s, I was working at a music store for minimum wage (Sam Goody at the Plymouth Meeting Mall, of all places) when I picked up, just by chance, Coltrane's Live at the Village Vanguard. That CD changed my life. I still vividly remember going home and putting "Spiritual" on the stereo, with the volume up loud, and feeling awestruck at the power and mystery of the music. It was akin to a religious experience for me.

As I became a devoted fan of jazz, my appreciation of the form was enriched by three things: Ortlieb's, where I would go all the time, either by myself or with friends who were swayed only by the promise of being able to drink while being underage; Harrison Ridley's Sunday evening jazz show on WRTI; and your columns in the City Paper, which told me who to see and where to see them.

I was, then, so grateful when you moved to the Times, where I have continued to read your work. I always look forward to reading your columns. Indeed, your recent column on the new Miles boxset convinced me to go out and get a copy for myself. You really do an incredible service to the music.

Many thanks for your time and energy,
Josh Milstein