Church of St. John Coltrane Band

• Stage: Eddy Street – John Coltrane Stage
• Date: Saturday, July 4, 2026
• Time: 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM

The Church of St. John Coltrane Band carries forward one of San Francisco’s most unique and spiritually powerful musical traditions. Founded in 1965 after saxophonist John Coltrane’s transformative performance at the historic Jazz Workshop in the Fillmore District, the church remains dedicated to preserving his message of universal love through sound.

Led by members of the Coltrane family and congregation, the ensemble blends transcendent saxophone improvisations, vocals, and rhythm into an uplifting musical experience that bridges jazz performance and spiritual expression. Their music reflects Coltrane’s later works such as A Love Supreme, channeling both reverence and creative freedom.

A cornerstone of the Fillmore’s cultural legacy, the Church of St. John Coltrane Band has performed worldwide while remaining deeply rooted in the neighborhood where their story began. Their annual appearance at the Fillmore Jazz Festival is both a homecoming and a continuation of a living tradition that honors Coltrane’s enduring influence on music and humanity.

Links:

• Saint John Coltrane African Orthodox Church
• The Canonization of Saint John Coltrane – NYT
• Fifty Years of Worship at the Church of John Coltrane – New Yorker
• Inside the San Francisco Church Where John Coltrane is a Saint – KQED