5 Things to Know About John Coltrane's Meditations Sextet

Meditations was recorded by a sextet, not Coltrane’s classic quartet. Pharoah Sanders on tenor saxophone and Rashied Ali on drums joined the group for this album.

Sanders brought a raw, spiritual intensity to the saxophone section. His playing complemented Coltrane’s own tenor and soprano sax work, creating dense, overlapping textures.

Rashied Ali replaced Elvin Jones on drums, shifting the rhythm section’s feel. Ali’s free-form, polyrhythmic style pushed the music into more chaotic, open territory.

The classic quartet members remained on the album. McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums all contributed to the sextet’s sound.

This expanded lineup marked a deliberate move toward collective improvisation. Coltrane used the extra players to build thicker, more turbulent soundscapes than his quartet could achieve.