The Coltrane Legacy
Sunday, September 28, 2 pm (DH)
Three saxophone giants will take the stage to raise awareness about the restoration of jazz icon John Coltrane’s Dix Hills home. Ravi Coltrane, Joe Lovano and Dave Liebman will demonstrate and discuss the themes that endure in Coltrane’s work. Also present will be Yasuhiro Fujioka, noted Coltrane historian.
While you’re here, sit down and try out the Coltrane Computer, located by the magzines, just past the DVDs, in a warm spot by a window.
The Coltrane Computer in Dix Hills
The Half Hollow Hills Library in Dix Hills now has a computer database specifically dedicated to John’s music and pictures. Much of the information has been donated by collector supreme Yasuhiro “Fuji” Fujioka and include some exclusive photos not found elsewhere. The computer is located by the magazines, just past the DVDs, in a warm spot by a window. Sit down, put on the headphones, and get ready to be moved by the music.
Joanna Massey from Jazz at Lincoln Center with Jehudith Cohen board member of The Friends of the Coltrane Home watching the children celebrate at their Cotton Candy Club reception. Joanna brought autographed books and CD’s from Wynton Marsalis for the raffles and teaching material for Ms. Passarella to work with.
Director Steve Fulgoni giving flutes to excited children with school para Ms. Lee observing happily.
The second graders creating their music during the Cotton Candy Club reception.
Parents of children volunteering their time to make this project memorable and meaningful! Pictures of musicians Robert Johnson, Miles Davis, Etta James, and BB King with the legend John Coltrane overlooking the group.
Ms. Christine Passarella with her own children Victoria and Anthony standing proudly with her students.
The girls thrilled to receive autographed CD’s from Mr. Vignapiano.
The boys showing off their very own CD’s. They will be able to remember the music they wrote their lyrics to forever and ever!
Encouraging fans of the children artist Jeff Hopkins and Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Joanna Massey. Both support Ms. Passarella’s way of teaching using Howard Gardners Multiple Intelligence Theory.
Ms. Christine Passarella proud of her students. She encourages them to Follow their Bliss each day.
Teaching children to see the beauty in each day and making them realize that giving of themselves in a philanthropic way makes her think “it’s a wonderful world!” During the next few weeks the children will be raffling off an Eastwood Joey Leone Signature Guitar, an autographed book by former President Bill Clinton, autographed books and CD’s by Wynton Marsalis and autographed CD’s by Ravi Coltrane. The hope is to raise enough money to transform the landmark historic home of John Coltrane into a true place of learning…the effort is a LOVE SUPREME….We encourage everyone to help the Friends of the Coltrane Home!!
The third graders from Holliswood School in Jamaica celebrated the Coltrane genius in their own special way, under the guidance of teacher Christine Passarella.
Boys getting ready to perform in honor of John Coltrane
Girls anticipating a wonderful day before their performance.
Audience getting ready for a great show! Director of the nonprofit group Friends of the Coltrane Home Steve Fulgoni in the audience! (Sitting far left)
The giving spirit of John Coltrane was all around us. Teacher Ms. Passarella quoted Elvin Jones, Coltrane’s gifted drummer. He said that, “John Coltrane was an angel…a real angel.”
The children dancing an original dance which they called Chasin the Trane.
The team making sure everything goes off without any problems.
Parents of our stars in the front rows with Superintendent of Schools Anita Saunders far left first row.
Students listening to Jazz guitarist Louis Vignapiano playing the guitar so beautifully. They wrote lyrics to his original music during the second grade. They sang and danced to these original songs during the show.
Class 2-119 and Louis Armstrong singing Bob Thiele’s It’s A Wonderful World. The audience quickly jumped in!
Holliswood School Principal Diane Hobbs congratulating the performers, and encourging the students at our school to be philanthropic and help the nonprofit group Friends of the Coltrane Home with their efforts.
State Senator Frank Padavan with teacher Ms. Christine Passarella. He was touched by these precious children.
Louis Vignapiano chatting with John Coltelli who is a supporter of the Friends of the Coltrane Home and was also reporting on the event for a Queens newspaper.
We are so excited here at the Half Hollow Hills Community Library to be part of the effort to restore the last home of the brilliant John Coltrane. John lived here in Dix Hills and it was in this house that he composed “A Love Supreme,” one of his best-known and most beloved works. The first step will be a computer in the library dedicated to a large Coltrane collection of music and pictures, suitable for students, scholars or just the casual user. In the fall, the library will be part of an educational music program that will feature John’s son Ravi, and saxophonists David Liebman and Joe Lovano.
We share Steve’s dream of bringing life back to the house, fill it with children learning about jazz and how a musician lived his life in suburbs, and to inspire visitors with John Coltrane’s deep spirit and soul, which can still be felt when you walk through the rooms.
Hello Everyone !!
Thanks for visiting our new website for the Coltrane Home in Dix Hills, NY !! We have updated the original website which you may know from www.dixhills.com. That website was created at the start of our grass roots efforts to save the Coltrane home from demolition in 2004. This website was very useful in helping us save the home but we have decided to “bring it up to date” and focus on making it more interactive, through our blog, with posts on the latest news, information, educational programs and how we can use your help.
As you know, the home was saved from demolition but we still have a long way to go to restore it and open it to the public. Stay tuned for more information and details … Steve
I’m a librarian at the Half Hollow Hills Community Library. We first heard about Steve Fulgoni’s efforts to save the Coltrane home in our community of Dix Hills about a year ago and were eager to help. Our first step was to start this blog and ask Steve to keep us all updated on the progress he’s made. Please feel free to comment, offer help and ideas. Take a look at the tabs on top to learn more about Steve’s efforts.
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