MAO Legendás Albumok – John Coltrane 100 | John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman

The Modern Art Orchestra’s autumn 2026 season ticket series pays tribute to the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth. One of the most influential figures in the history of jazz, he was not only an instrumental revolutionary but also an artist who reinterpreted the relationship between improvisation, form and spiritual content. The four-concert series traces the various stages of Coltrane’s career: from his hard bop roots, through his reinterpretations of standards, to his lyrical, vocal-inspired sound. The selected albums represent not only eras but also ways of thinking — the path which, starting from tradition, led to the birth of a unique, universal musical language. The musicians of the Modern Art Orchestra evoke these iconic recordings using the original instrumentation, preserving their spirit whilst giving voice to Coltrane’s legacy in their own voice, from a contemporary perspective.

The closing concert of the series pays tribute to one of Coltrane’s most lyrical and deeply personal albums. The recording, featuring Johnny Hartman on vocals, is an outstanding example of the jazz ballad genre, in which instrumental and vocal expression come together in perfect harmony. The timeless melodies, subtle instrumentation and deep emotional resonance create a unique atmosphere. As performed by the Modern Art Orchestra, this material is about intimate musical communication — about the quiet intensity that reveals one of the most important, yet often hidden, layers of Coltrane’s artistry.