"They Messed Around and Made a Classic": The 60th Anniversary of Duke Ellington and John Coltrane

In late 1962, John Coltrane and Duke Ellington went into the studio and created one of the most essential albums in jazz and beyond. Initially paired in an effort to prove Coltrane's commercial viability and conciliate rigid critics of his evolving sound, these titans would prove to do something much more meaningful. Emmy-winning vocalist, saxophonist, composer and producer Braxton Cook joins Milestones to discuss the 60th anniversary of this landmark album. Together they dive into the beauty of intergenerational creativity, Coltrane's approach to a ballad, black male vulnerability and the cultural impact of this one-time collaboration. They also discuss Cook's brand new album Who Are You When No One Is Watching? A distinct synthesis of jazz, R&B, soul, funk, and hip hop, paired with a striking commentary that both honors and celebrates the fullness of black life, Cook's latest drops everywhere today.

Milestones theme produced by Riley K. Glasper

Co-Produced by Corey Goldberg

Recorded at Teal Octopus in Brooklyn, New York