Maus and Coltrane

Samuel Beckett once said: ‘Every word is like an unnecessary stain on silence and nothingness.’”
“Yes.”
“On the other hand, he said it.”
“He was right. Maybe you can include it in your book.”
— Art Spiegelman, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale, II: And Here My Troubles Began (NY: Pantheon, 1991), p. 45. (http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0679729771)

...

"I had heard, just before meeting him, some cassettes of his latest compositions, and I said, “John, if you don’t mind, I will ask you a question. I just heard some recordings of your new compositions and I was very intrigued.” He looked perplexed. I continued, “I was so impressed and found it amazing and touching as well. But in places I felt you were crying out through your instrument, and it was like a shriek of a tormented soul. I have heard the same from many other great jazz performers, which is quite understandable because of their pain, and the hurt of generations comes out in their music. But seeing and knowing you I thought that the interest and love of our tradition and music has helped you to overcome this.” I will never forget the expression on his face, and the words which he said with such a deep feeling which brought tears to my eyes. He said, “Ravi, that is exactly what I want to know and learn from you, how you find so much peace in your music and give it to your listeners.”
— Ravi Shankar’s memories of John Coltrane, recorded in 2001. They first met around 1964; Coltrane died in 1967. Source: The Ravi Shankar Foundation webpage.

...

I'm pleased when songs I love remind my friends of me.