Record Reviews
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  | MILES DAVIS / JOHN COLTRANE ~ THE FINAL TOUR: THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL.6
COLUMBIA 889854483920 (Barcode: 889854483920) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1960 Released: 2018
This is the 6th installment of the "Bootleg Series" recordings by American trumpeter / composer Miles DavisFind albums by this artist, released by ColumbiaFind albums on this label Records. It presents a document of the last tour by the legendary first Miles Davis Quintet, which included saxophonist John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, pianist Wynton KellyFind albums by this artist, bassist Paul ChambersFind albums by this artist and drummer Jimmy CobbFind albums by this artist. The live recordings, captured during the quintet´s European Tour organized by Norman GranzFind albums by this artist, who was the most important American Jazz impresario between the 1940s and 1960s and a notable record producer, include two concerts in Paris on March 21, 1960, two concerts in Stockholm on March 22, 1960 and one concert in Copenhagen on March 24, 1960. A short Miles Davis interview is also included. This is the first legitimate commercial issue of this material; numerous earlier bootlegs of the same material have been flooding the record market for years.
After spending five years with Davis, Coltrane was feeling restless and tired of the setup and during this tour he informed Davis that he will be leaving the quintet upon its return from the European Tour captured here. Coltrane´s feverish move forward was already taking him away from the music played by the quintet, which although brilliant in every way was stuck in the Bebop and Cool traditions, in favor of more Free oriented music, which was already evident on his recording as a leader on AtlanticFind albums on this label Records ("Giant StepsFind albums with this title" was recorded almost a year before the music here was captured) and later on the revolutionary albums on Impulse!Find albums on this label Records, which changed the Jazz idiom forever. Davis would change his approach to music only about four years later with the formation of the second Miles Davis Quintet, which will also have a major influence on the future of Jazz, namely by developing the Jazz-Rock Fusion.
Coltrane´s playing, as captured here, is simply Godly in every respect. It marks clearly the direction he was moving into and his lengthy explorations and often atonal squeaks and long convoluted solos are in complete contrast to Davis´ and the rest of the quintet members´ playing, which at times is a bit embarrassing in its simplicity. The audiences seem to have no problem whatsoever with Coltrane´s explorations and he is enthusiastically cheered after each solo, which is hardly surprising as Scandinavian musicians and audiences (same goes for the rest of Europe, including behind the Iron Curtain) at the time were already slowly moving forwards the next phase of the Jazz history.
The music is a mixture of Davis originals and standards and we get four versions of Davis´ classic "So What" and two versions of "All Blues", all ranging between ten and fifteen minutes in duration, as well as three versions of Bronislaw KaperFind albums by this artist´s "On Green Dolphin Street", all about fifteen minutes long and two versions of Richard CarpenterFind albums by this artist´s "Walkin´", also about fifteen minutes each. This means of course that the Davis / Coltrane connoisseurs are able to compare and analyze the differences in the soloing on each of the repeated tunes, and of course those are quite dissimilar to each other.
Undoubtedly this music is a tremendous document of its era and marks the peak of the American Jazz tradition, but at the same time it is as well a sign of an end of that era. Sadly the American Jazz tradition would get stuck more or less in that gear for the next decades, with no significant development in sight, except for Free Jazz / Improvised Music spearheaded by Coltrane and Fusion spearheaded by later Davis ensembles, which were about to peak a decade or so later and from then on would be as dormant as the traditional American Jazz.
Of course for Davis / Coltrane lovers this is absolutely essential material and a must have in their collections. Even if people already own the bootlegged releases of this material, this new remastered and beautifully packaged release and the included booklet are definitely worth the price of this set. Essential stuff!
| | Updated: 31/12/2024Posted: 20/05/2018 | CD 4 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ THE COMPLETE 1961 VILLAGE VANGUARD RECORDINGS
IMPULSE! 232 (Barcode: 011105023221) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1961 Released: 1997
When this music was recorded in November of 1961 I was only 10 years old and yet it changed my life forever. Living in (Socialist) Poland, my access to contemporary (at the time) jazz originating in the US was pretty limited and the only beacon of light was the daily Willis ConoverFind albums by this artist’s radio jazz program on Voice Of America, beamed from across the Iron Curtain. Millions of Eastern European listeners would risk freedom (listening to VOA was a criminal act then) to gain freedom, myself included. These broadcasts changed the life of countless people and particularly in Poland would eventually be a dominant factor in the process of forming a burgeoning and extremely fruitful local jazz scene. Many hours of my early childhood were spent with myself standing on a conductor’s podium (e sledge), in front of an imaginary orchestra playing inside the enormous radio (a pre WW II antique). Since classical music was less censored and sponsored by the Establishment, it was there for us to enjoy most of it of very high quality. I remember listening for hours at end to the annual Chopin competition, which was Poland’s most prestigious music event, getting to know his music inside out before I even knew anything about him. My Mother encouraged my “conducting” aspirations warmly, supplementing them with occasional background information. But the discovery of jazz and its strange convoluting patterns and unfamiliar rhythms was a revelation. I just couldn’t get enough of it and every new artist or piece of music was an instant bliss. By the time I was about to hear John ColtraneFind albums by this artist for the first time I was already familiar with the music of Duke EllingtonFind albums by this artist, Count BasieFind albums by this artist, Charlie ParkerFind albums by this artist and Dizzie GillespieFind albums by this artist (thanks to Mr. Conover). Conover, in contrast to many of his peers (who were stuck in be-bop or some earlier jazz sub-genre for the rest of their lives), was remarkably open-minded and understood the genius of Coltrane and his visionary contribution to the development of the Jazz Art form. He therefore featured every new Coltrane album as soon as it was released. So here I was, 10 years old, some time in early 1962, listening to the Village Vanguard sessions – an experience equivalent to a 10,000 Volts electricity shock. My life would definitely be never the same again. I hope these personal reminiscences don’t put you off too much, but I just couldn’t resist the temptation. Taking the time-travel express to now here are my comments about this music from a “45 years later” point of view. In 1961 Coltrane left AtlanticFind albums on this label (his second label, PrestigeFind albums on this label being the first) and signed a contract with Impulse!Find albums on this label, the new and ambitious jazz label run by producer Bob ThieleFind albums by this artist, where he would stay for the rest of his life. Coltrane was already following a path (mostly subconsciously) which would lead him to the edge of the known jazz explorations and beyond. His monumental Atlantic albums like Giant Steps and My Favorite Things were just a glimpse of things to come. Coltrane felt that Thiele would allow him to speed up the process of reaching the quest of musical enlightenment by allowing him total artistic freedom and supporting him all the way and he was of course right. The extensive volume of music recorded for Impulse! in the span of almost 7 years right up to his death would become the most important musical legacy of the 20th Century, so innovative and groundbreaking that it is still a mystery to many contemporary listeners and musicologists today. Coltrane’s first recording for Impulse! (in the spring of 1961) would be the Africa / Brass sessions, an ambitious project involving a large ensemble of the most gifted players on the scene (Freddie HubbardFind albums by this artist, Booker LittleFind albums by this artist, Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist and many others) – see The Complete Africa / Brass SessionsFind albums with this title album, another essential Coltrane release. These sessions introduce several new elements in Coltrane’s music, like Far-Eastern motifs, African rhythms and other ethnic influences. In November of 1961 Thiele decided to record Coltrane live, using the 4 nights booking at the NY club The Village Vanguard (where many jazz albums were recorded live) for this purpose. The booking was for a John Coltrane Quintet and it was only natural that the Quintet would include Eric Dolphy, whom Coltrane knew, respected and played with earlier. The legendary Quartet (with McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist and Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist) was not entirely crystallized at the time, so Coltrane and Thiele decided to expand the line-up (on some takes) to include an oud player (Ahmed Abdul-MalikFind albums by this artist) and alternative bassist (Reggie WorkmanFind albums by this artist) and drummer (Roy HaynesFind albums by this artist). Since this music was recorded for a future release Thiele (as any produce would do) recorded several takes of each tune, some with an alternating line-up. This 4CDs Box Set includes all the music that was recorded during these four days (mind you not all the music that was played, as some of it was not recorded hence the “complete” being not entirely true) in the exact order it was recorded. This music was to be released later on two albums (Live At The Village Vanguard and The Other Village Vanguard Tapes) as well as parts of other albums (Impressions) and collections. Collected here together for the first time, this is a monumental piece of jazz history and an unforgettable musical experience. Coltrane’s circular breathing technique and his “wall of sound” approach are clearly evident here for the first time in their full glory. The comparison of the different versions of the same tunes are both fundamental and clairvoyant examples of the “one time experience” that every jazz performance essentially is. The power, the vision, the super-human strength of will of the Master and Prophet (please excuse the almost religious references) that Coltrane was, are here for us, his disciples, to discover, study, revere and bequest to future generations. This Box Set is something one has in one’s record collection for life. It is not only timeless, but also constantly evolving in parallel to one’s private (musical) evolution. Listening to it time after time (especially after a long period of abstention) will be revealing and constantly surprising. It is a superb example of great Art, which keeps alive for eternity, adopting itself to the changing cultural surroundings, and therefore being truly eternal. I can’t imagine anybody, who calls himself a music lover, not owning this music, as naive as this might sound, since I believe there is something in it for everybody. Beyond essential!
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 4 Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | KEITH JARRETT ~ THE IMPULSE YEARS 1973-1974
IMPULSE! 237 (Barcode: 011105023726) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1973 - 1974 Released: 1997
During the 1970’s Keith JarrettFind albums by this artist was living a double musical life, leading two completely different quartets – The American one (which recorded on Impulse!Find albums on this label - captured here) and the European / Nordic one, with which he recorded on ECMFind albums on this label. The ECM recordings brought him much glory and fame (in addition to his famous solo-piano recordings on that label), but the recordings with the American quartet, which included Dewey RedmanFind albums by this artist on reeds, Charlie HadenFind albums by this artist on bass and Paul MotianFind albums by this artist on drums, remain somewhat overlooked / neglected by the jazz enthusiasts. This is of course a great pity, as these revolutionary performances include some of the finest Jarrett’s moments captured on record, as well as brilliant achievements by the members of his quartet. This brilliant Box Set is the companion to the other set, which includes Jarrett’s other recordings on Impulse! (Mysteries: The Impulse Years 1975-1977Find albums with this title, which unfortunately seems to be out of print). It includes material previously released on four Jarrett albums: Fort YawuhFind albums with this title, Treasure IslandFind albums with this title, Death And The FlowerFind albums with this title and BackhandFind albums with this title, but totals in almost double amount of music, with many previously unreleased tracks and tracks released here in their unedited (full) form. The music is of course typical Jarrett, moving constantly between melody and free form, somewhat expanding on the Ornette Coleman legacy, but always very individual and unique only to Jarrett. Redman is also at his best here, especially when captured live (the first 2 CDs were recorded live at the Village Vanguard). This is undoubtedly some of the best American jazz ever and hopefully more people will decide to re-visit these wonderful musical moments.
| | Updated: 26/08/2020Posted: | CD 5 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | MICHAEL BRECKER ~ TWO BLOCKS FROM THE EDGE
IMPULSE! 260 (Barcode: 011105026024) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1998 Released: 1998
Excellent album by Brecker with his quartet, which includes musicians from the younger generation of US jazz players: Joey Calderazzo on piano, James Genus on bass and Jeff Watts on drums. Veteran percussionist Don Alias joins the quartet to add his ornaments. Brecker and Calderazzo split the compositions performed and the players seem to have a great time throughout the entire session. Brecker plays several excellent solos in the best post-Coltrane tradition and the piano solos are brilliant as well. With the material being exceptionally strong this album is considered by many Brecker’s fans to be his strongest solo release to date. This is one of those albums where nothing can go wrong and the listener’s satisfaction is guaranteed. Recommended!
| | | CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend |
  | ALBERT AYLER ~ LIVE IN GREENWICH VILLAGE: THE COMPLETE IMPULSE! RECORDINGS
IMPULSE! 273 (Barcode: 011105027328) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1965 - 1967 Released: 1998
One of the greatest pioneers of the Free Jazz in the 1960’s, Albert AylerFind albums by this artist is universally recognized for his contributions but remains the most controversial of the period’s figures. There are quite a few reasons for this controversy: his relatively limited output (due to his tragic death in 1970 he recorded just for about 9 years between 1962 and 1970), his background (Ayler arrived at the Free Jazz scene from Rhythm And Blues unlike Ornette ColemanFind albums by this artist or John ColtraneFind albums by this artist who had years of Bebop behind them) and his radical approach to improvisation based less on personal virtuosity and more on expressiveness and attack. In addition Ayler based his improvisations on many world music influences (one of the first US musicians to do so), rather than on the blues and jazz standards. Ayler started his career in Scandinavia, where he lived in the early 1960’s and where he first recorded (similar to many other US jazz musicians, who found the US scene to be unappreciative of their innovations as opposite to the Europeans who were much more open-minded – this being true to this very day). Upon his return to NY, Ayler recorded a series of visionary and now legendary albums for the no less legendary NY based “underground” ESPFind albums on this label label, which was the first American label to provide its artists a total artistic freedom and control of their output. Later on Ayler signed with Impulse!Find albums on this label, where he recorded until his untimely (and mysterious) death. This exquisite album collects all the live recordings Ayler made for Impulse! between 1965 and 1967 in various venues in the NY Greenwich Village. It captures him (and his group) at the absolute peak of his improvisational ability. Strongly influenced by Coltrane’s late period output (one of the pieces here is dedicated to Coltrane and was recorded just after Coltrane’s death) the music presents turmoil of emotions and brilliant group improvisations. Ayler’s group includes his brother Don AylerFind albums by this artist on trumpet, Michael SampsonFind albums by this artist on violin, Henry GrimesFind albums by this artist on bass, Beaver HarrisFind albums by this artist on drums and many other prominent NY Free Jazz players. This is an essential piece of the Free Jazz history and a great portrait of an Artist at his best moment. Brilliant!
| | Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: | CD 2 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ THE CLASSIC QUARTET: COMPLETE IMPULSE! STUDIO RECORDINGS
IMPULSE! 280 (Barcode: 011105028028) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1961 - 1965 Released: 1998
If there was ever a Box Set that includes the most quintessential music recorded in the 20th century, this is it! If we lived in an ideal world, this icon would be present in every household on earth, replacing the many religious / political / pseudo-cultural and empty icons so many people worship blindly. Sadly we don’t live in such a world and the only solace is that Coltrane’s music touched millions of people around the globe and shaped the way of thinking and inspired the way of playing of countless musicians over time. Not enough, but still quite an achievement, for which one should be grateful to the technology of sound recording. Let me say this again (as repetition is this case is hardly redundant): If I were to head the SETI project, I’d have this music beamed out to deep space indefinitely, hoping that if we ever get to the Encounter of the Third Kind, the sentient beings out there might have a better opinion of our species than the average Homo Sapiens might project. Back on earth; this lavish set includes all the music the legendary Coltrane Quartet (with McCoy Tyner – piano, Jimmy Garrison – bass and Elvin Jones – drums) recorded for Impulse! between December of 1961 and September of 1965. It includes the complete 8 studio albums the Quartet recorded (“Coltrane”, “Ballads”, “Crescent”, “A Love Supreme”, “Plays”, “Transition”, “Sun Ship”, “First Meditations”) and the studio tracks of 4 other albums, which also included live tracks (“Impressions”, “Live At Birdland”, “Kulu Se Mama”, “Infinity”). In addition various previously unreleased tracks and tracks released on compilation albums are included. All the tracks are presented in strict chronological order (by date of recording), which enhances the value of the set immensely, as the listener is able to follow the rapid transition process Coltrane’s music was taking during this period. It is almost impossible to believe that it is the same Quartet that recorded the first tracks in the set and the last ones. The visionary drive that pushed Coltrane to the limits (and beyond) of human ability to express emotions and intellect in the form of musical creation is plainly evident here. Coltrane’s impulse (how appropriate) to expand the borders of known musical vocabulary seems to completely engulf the other members of the Quartet, as these tracks are as much Coltrane’s as the Quartet’s. The telepathic interplay between the musicians and the process of constant challenging each other is an essential ingredient of this music, which takes it to a higher plane. The bonus tracks shed light on the entire process of development and clear many unanswered (up to the time this was released) riddles and gaps in the continuity of the process. Obviously the material released during Coltrane’s life was only partial and suffered from corporate decisions as to what and how was released. This set puts the record straight (no chaser). To summarize; this is one of the best introspective releases ever done (of the best music ever recorded). The set is lavishly packaged in a sturdy metal case and includes a 100-page book with exquisite photos and intelligent liner notes. Add to this over 8 hours of heavenly music and you get the Mother of all Box Sets and a collectors’ item that is virtually priceless. Still thinking about this?
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 8 Box Set Oversampling Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ A LOVE SUPREME (DELUXE EDITION)
IMPULSE! 589945 (Barcode: 731458994527) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1954 Released: 2002
Legendary John ColtraneFind albums by this artist album, which is considered as one of the most beautiful and most important jazz albums of all times. It reflects Coltrane`s deep interest in Eastern beliefs and the mantra like themes go right deep into the soul of the listener. The additional material includes never previously released alternate takes and a live version of the music recorded in 1965 at the Antibes Jazz Festival. An absolute must to any jazz fan and essentially to any music lover.
| | | CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ A LOVE SUPREME: LIVE IN SEATTLE
IMPULSE! 602438499977 (Barcode: 602438499977) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1965 Released: 2021
This is an archival album by iconic American Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader / visionary John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, captured live on October 2, 1965 at the Penthouse Jazz club in Seattle with his septet, which also includes saxophonists Pharoah SandersFind albums by this artist and Carlos WardFind albums by this artist, pianist McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, bassists Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist and Donald GarrettFind albums by this artist and drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, the four-part “A Love Supreme” suite and four interludes.
The music was recorded informally by local Seattle saxophonist and educator Joe BrazilFind albums by this artist and the tapes were in his private collection for many years, until they were discovered in 2013 but released only eight years later. The recording is pretty rough and primitive, using just two microphones directly plugged into the tape recorder, resulting in a highly unbalanced sound mix with the drums dominating most of the music.
Coltrane very rarely performed the suite live after it was recorded in the studio in December of 1964, and there was only one available live recording of it before these tapes were discovered. This is not really surprising considering Coltrane’s very special relation to the suite, which he considered highly spiritual. The decision to perform it on the last day of the Seattle club residence was most probably entirely spontaneous, but the musicians in Coltrane’s septet were obviously not taken aback by that decision and played along as if it was a completely natural one.
The music is, despite the difficulty to be able to hear it properly, absolutely stunning, demonstrating and peak of Coltrane’s Free Jazz period, just before he entered the final “wall of sound” period. It is not difficult to distinguish between Coltrane’s and Sanders’ solos of course, as their approach was quite different. Tyner, whenever heard, plays Godly, as usual, with his staccato bombardment of the keyboard, and yet beautifully melodically at all times. The double bass lineup allows the rhythm section to expand its role and using the bow, as well as solo extensively during the Interludes and Jones is what he is, masterly keeping time and playing around the time all at once.
Overall, this is a superb document of American Free Jazz at its absolute peak, as well as another “missing link” in the seemingly endless Coltrane discography, which is one of the most important one-man manifestations of American Jazz ever. The bad sound balance gets all forgotten when the music lashes at the listener’s ears, and every split second of the music is an incredible evidence of Genius incarnate.
| | Updated: 08/07/2024Posted: 28/02/2022 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE / ERIC DOLPHY ~ EVENINGS AT THE VILLAGE GATE
IMPULSE! 602455514189 (Barcode: 602455514189) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1961 Released: 2023
This is an archival live album by the American Jazz saxophonist / composer John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, recorded with his classic quartet, with pianist McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, bassist Reggie WorkmanFind albums by this artist (or Art DavisFind albums by this artist) and drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist, which is expanded here to a quintet with the addition of flautist / saxophonist Eric DolphyFind albums by this artist. The music, recorded in August 1961 during Coltrane’s residency at the NY Village Gate club, disappeared and then was rediscovered recently, offers five lengthy tracks, two of which are Coltrane originals, one is by Benny Carter composition, one is a traditional song and one is a standard.
The music is everything one might expect from Coltrane, Dolphy and the rest of the team, full of absolutely stellar performances, with expanded soloing and brilliant dynamics, which sets the mold for early Free Jazz. In comparison to the music recorded by Coltrane at the Village Vanguard, just three months later, which would be way more Free oriented, the music herein is still pretty much melody based. The comparison clearly shows Coltrane’s rapid progression towards the Avant-Garde abstract and Improvised Music, which would engulf his personality in the last few years of his life.
The sound quality of this material is very problematic and for music lovers, who are also obsessed with sound quality, most of what can be heard here will probably be very difficult to swallow. The sound is dominated by the boomy drums, which are way up in the mix, and the overall muddy sound, with the piano mostly inaudible and the saxophones sounding like recorded next door. But all things considered, this is John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy we are talking about, and every note recorded by them is Holy Grail as far as Jazz lovers are concerned, so sound quality aside, this is Godly music after all.
Overall, this album is as important as every other live album by Coltrane with or without Dolphy, and despite problematic sound quality offers exhilarating early Free Jazz by the Masters of the genre. No matter how many live recordings by Coltrane will pop up in the future, they are all an ultimate Jazz experiences, especially since they are almost the last evidence of Jazz existing in the USA.
| | Updated: 08/07/2024Posted: 06/01/2024 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ ONE DOWN, ONE UP: LIVE AT THE HALF NOTE
IMPULSE! 602498621431 (Barcode: 602498621431) ~ USA ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1965 Released: 2005
This is an archival album by iconic American saxophonist / composer John ColtraneFind albums by this artist and his legendary quartet with pianist McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, bassist Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist and drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist. The album presents two sessions recorded on March 26 and May 7, 1965, recorded by the radio station WABC-FM, which used to broadcast the Friday concerts under the “Portraits Of Jazz” moniker. These two sessions were recorded in between the two studio sessions that resulted in the “The John Coltrane Quartet PlaysFind albums with this title” album.
Each of the two sessions presents just two lengthy improvisations, together four tracks, lasting between 12+ to 27+ minutes. The title track, which is also the longest track on this album, is also the longest Coltrane solo ever recorded, most of which is a duo between him and Jones.
There is no sense of writing about this music really… Endless stream of words was already written about Coltrane and his music: articles, books, documentaries, etc., none of which are able to even come close to describe his music and the genius of his creative process. Obviously sometimes music is just beyond words. Therefore, I’ll just share my retrospective reflections here.
1965 was undoubtedly the year when the music of Coltrane peaked, or at least the music he played, which was still connected to his Jazz roots and tradition and before his rapid musical progression will take him into interstellar dimensions and his music would become completely spontaneously improvised.
For the sharp-eared listeners it should be fascinating to note the differences between the music played just six weeks apart, a seemingly completely insignificant period of time in a life of a musician, but in case of Coltrane, who was already traveling at the speed of light, the transformation is colossal. His meditative playing and the cry of anguish he produced were already the Coltrane of the last two years of his life, which led to the disintegration of the classic quartet captured here.
Coltrane played in this tiny / dinky NY club for a ridiculously small audience, whereas in Europe and Japan his concerts were attended by thousands of appreciative fans. That much for the American Jazz scene…
And of course the most daunting of all the reflections about Jazz music: this album proves beyond the shadow of a doubt that the development of Free Jazz / Improvised Music reached its peak in the mid-1960s and nothing, I mean NOTHING, happened in that idiom, which might be considered as expanding the limits of that music ever since. The idiom still exists but it is sadly completely stagnant.
Since these recordings were not included in any of the Coltrane Box Sets and were only released for the first time forty years after they were recorded, this is an absolute must for every Coltrane follower.
| | Updated: 08/07/2024Posted: 06/08/2021 | CD 2 Digipak Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ A LOVE SUPREME: THE COMPLETE MASTERS (SUPER DELUXE EDITION)
IMPULSE! 602547489470 (Barcode: 602547489470) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1964 - 1965 Released: 2015
This is the singular most important piece of music ever recorded.
Everything else I or anybody else has to say about it is of secondary importance to be honest, so I´ll just stick to the facts and a few personal reflections.
This version of the "A Love SupremeFind albums with this title" album is the second expansion of the original album released in 1965, which featured four tracks (called "Acknowledgment", "Resolution", "Pursuance" and "Psalm") recorded on December 9, 1964 by the legendary quartet led by American saxophonist / composer John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, which also included pianist McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, bassist Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist and drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist.
The 2002 Deluxe Edition added to the original album on the first CD a second CD comprising of "A Love Supreme" recorded live at Festival Mondial du Jazz Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, France on July 26, 1965, and also a couple of alternate takes from the quartet session recorded on December 9, 1964 and a couple of alternate takes from the sextet session with saxophonist Archie SheppFind albums by this artist and second bassist Art DavisFind albums by this artist, recorded on December 10, 1964, which attempted to record the same music but resulted in recording only six takes of "Acknowledgment".
This 2015 Super Deluxe Edition is expanded to three CDs and includes in addition to all the tracks of the Deluxe Edition nine previously unreleased alternate takes, five of which originate from the quartet session and four from the sextet session. It also includes an informative little book with many photographs and handwritten remarks and musical notation by Coltrane, which is highly educational.
God only knows if more recordings connected to these sessions will pop up in the future; experienced record collectors know very well to treat the word "complete" with extreme caution and disbelieve. In the meantime we are of course grateful to have access to this Godly music and enjoy it to the max.
I have been listening to this music continuously from the day it was released, which is now over forty years in the past. I grew up with it, lived with it and now am getting old with it and never for a moment could I imagine it to be absent from the soundtrack of my life. In retrospect this music encompasses everything I consider essential in music: it has great melodies, it is mesmerizing from start to finish, it includes the entire Jazz tradition, from Ragtime to Free, it connects with Music from other Cultures, it is deeply spiritual and intellectual at the same time, and of course it is absolutely super-humanly performed.
I often say that all music created after Coltrane, as good as it might be, and it often is insanely good, never really expanded the boundaries of music again. Coltrane was the Messenger, and he simply said it all. This does not mean of course that new music shouldn´t be made; of course not, it simply means that there is a scale of reference, which we can always apply to music, in order to properly appreciate and evaluate it.
Side Note: Today is Valentine´s Day, so what could be more appropriate than "A Love Supreme"! But seriously, this is the 5,000th album review that I write for the "Soundtrack Of My Life" site, a number which probably does mean very little to most people but it encapsulates years of writing about music, an activity I love to be involved with more than anything else. Hopefully some people are also reading this…
| | Updated: 20/05/2018Posted: 14/02/2016 | CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ BLUE WORLD
IMPULSE! 602577626524 (Barcode: 602577626524) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1964 Released: 2019
This is an archival album by the legendary American Jazz saxophonist / composer / bandleader John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, recorded with his classic quartet featuring pianist McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist, bassist Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist and drummer Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight short tracks, which are five original compositions by Coltrane, one with three takes, one with two takes and the other three with one take each. The music was recorded on June 24, 1964 between the recordings sessions for the “CrescentFind albums with this title” and “A Love SupremeFind albums with this title” albums. The recording is in mono, since it was about to serve as a soundtrack to the film “Le chat dans le sac” by the Canadian director Gilles GroulxFind albums by this artist, released later that year. It was the only soundtrack recording by Coltrane. The music remained unreleased for fifty-five years!
Although the music is, as everything recorded by Coltrane, sublime, the album introduces nothing new to Coltrane’s recorded legacy. All the compositions were already previously recorded and the music offers some of the most “well behaved” Coltrane performances, which were actually out of sync with his stylistic approach at the time of the recording, obviously since the music was intended for a soundtrack and highly improvised Free Jazz was way too early to appear on the screen. That said, Coltrane and the quartet at the apex of their powers and the music swings wonderfully with the saxophone soaring highly above.
Overall, this is definitely a worthy addition to the extended Coltrane discography, perhaps less essential than his other studio recording of that period, but still blessed by his enormous and unique talent. For Coltrane completest this album is of course an absolute must!
| | Updated: 08/07/2024Posted: 20/01/2024 | CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend |
  | ROLF + JOACHIM KUHN QUARTET ~ IMPRESSIONS OF NEW YORK
MPS 600753227572 (Barcode: 600753227572) ~ GERMANY ~ Free Jazz / Improvised Music
Recorded: 1967 Released: 2009
This is a reissue / remaster of the legendary album by the German Kuhn Brothers, clarinetists / composer Rolf KuhnFind albums by this artist and pianist / composer Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist. The quartet includes also American bassist Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist and Italian drummer Aldo RomanoFind albums by this artist. The album presents two tracks, corresponding to the two sides of the original LP, which are in fact four parts of a suite, which gave the album its name. All the music was co-composed by the both brothers.
Following the unification of the Kuhn Brothers in West Germany, with Joachim leaving the DDR and moving to West Germany, they were invited to perform at the legendary Newport Jazz Festival. Their performance was witnessed by the legendary producer Bob ThieleFind albums by this artist, who invited them to record this album on his iconic Impulse!Find albums on this label label. The album was recorded on July 27, 1967, just a few days following the death and funeral of John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, which the brothers attended, and which had a tremendous impact on the music on this album, considering the fact that Coltrane was the most revered American musician and an instigator of Free Jazz / Improvised Music, as well as the fact that Coltrane’s bassist played on it. This album was the first Impulse! release to feature German Jazz Musicians. The Kuhn Brothers recorded another album for Impulse! some forty-four years later, called “LifelineFind albums with this title”.
The album is an outstanding example of early European Free Jazz / Improvised Music, of the absolutely highest standard and imagination, which took the seeds of American Free Jazz of the period and took them to another plane, way more sophisticated, Artistic and imaginative. The performances are blood-chilling and absolutely unique, in many ways probably exposing the very peak of the Jazz creativity, which to be honest never managed to climb much higher than what can be heard here.
Rolf Kuhn is for me the true hero of this session, considering the fact that he was deeply rooted in American Swing and Mainstream, playing in the US for many years, and yet managed to detach himself from that tradition in such a radical way, which is way more difficult than plunging into Improvising Music straight on, like his younger brother. Obviously, the comparison of his clarinet performances herein with Coltrane’s saxophone playing is immediately a point of interest, as are the piano parts against those of Coltrane’s pianists. Rolf’s death almost two years ago (2022) was a huge personal loss for me, since we have been Friends for so many years and I truly admired his talent and wisdom.
Overall, this is one of the most pivotal Jazz albums in European Jazz, despite the fact that it is only known by relatively very few Jazz listeners. I have owned a copy since day one and listened to this album countless times in the almost sixty years since it was released, and each and every time I managed to discover something new in the music. I can only hope some more listeners will discover it one day, although admittedly it is quite difficult to find a copy.
| | Updated: 01/10/2024Posted: 08/07/2024 | CD 1 Oversampling Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOACHIM KUHN ~ HIP ELEGY (MOST PERFECT SOUND EDITION)
MPS 9808186 ~ GERMANY ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion
Joachim KuhnFind albums by this artist ranks among the most famous European jazz musicians. Brilliant pianist and composer, he has been active on the German jazz scene since the mid-1960’s, first playing with his older brother Ralf KuhnFind albums by this artist (a superb jazz clarinet player – see their excellent album on the American Impulse!Find albums on this label label, if you can find it) and later enjoyed a spectacular solo career, playing and recording with all the best jazz musicians around the world. As many of his German colleagues he played mostly free jazz in his early days and later expanded also to Jazz-Rock.
For this 1975 recording Kuhn assembled a stellar group of musicians: Japanese trumpeter Terumasa HinoFind albums by this artist, Belgian guitarist extraordinare Philip CatherineFind albums by this artist, Brazilian percussionist Nana VasconcelosFind albums by this artist and an all-American rhythm section with John LeeFind albums by this artist on bass and Alphonse MouzonFind albums by this artist on drums. Together they play a set of Kuhn’s superb compositions, executed with elegance and virtuosity rarely heard elsewhere. Kuhn’s superb piano technique, of the classical concert hall scale, sets the tone, but he also uses electronic keyboards to paint layers of atmospheric backgrounds. Everybody enjoys plenty of space to improvise and the result is a Fusion fan’s dream come-true.
On a side note: the album was produced by Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist and the music was first played at the jubilee concerts celebrating his 5,000th radio jazz program on the Sudwestfunk network – where Berendt worked for many years.
Side Note
The legendary German MPSFind albums on this label (Musik Produktion Schwarzwald) label, founded by Hans Georg Brunner-SchwerFind albums by this artist (HGBS) in 1963, first as SABAFind albums on this label Records and later on from 1968 as MPS Records, was the most important independent European record label, which had an enormous contribution to the development of European Jazz. For many years MPS cooperated with the legendary German producer / author Joachim BerendtFind albums by this artist, my Friend and Mentor, whose visionary approach and open-mindedness brought the crème de la crème of the Jazz (in the broadest meaning of the word) musicians from all over the world to the label. Between 1963 and 1983 MPS produced about five hundred albums, many of which are among the most important Jazz recordings on this planet.
In 1983 the MPS catalog was sold to UniversalFind albums on this label, which sadly resulted in all those artistic treasures to almost disappear from the face of the earth – a situation not only tragic but culturally criminal. Universal reissued a part of the MPS albums (probably 128 titles) on CD between 1999 and 2011 under the "Most Perfect Sound Edition" moniker.
Since 2008 the German Promising MusicFind albums on this label label released some of the MPS recordings, but at a very slow pace.
In 2014 the German company Edel AG bought the MPS catalogue from Universal and released a series of 25 MPS albums on CD with a new slipcase graphic design, which brought all those excellent albums back to life. In 2015 Edel AG started to record and release new albums under the MPS moniker. In 2016 Edel AG released a series of 10 classic MPS albums on CD, which were beautifully remastered and re-packaged, presenting the original artwork and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photographs. An obvious labor of love, these reissues are what the MPS catalogue truly deserves. This project was continued in 2017 with another series of 10 classic MPS albums released on CD. In later years some new reissues were released sporadically.
Over the years many SABA / MPS albums were reissued in Japan, which is often the only available source for these albums today, but that is a story in itself.
| | Updated: 28/05/2018Posted: | CD 1 Digipak Oversampling Remastered Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ THE PRESTIGE RECORDINGS
PRESTIGE 888072335936 (Barcode: 888072335936) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1956 - 1958 Released: 2011
This magnificent Box Set combines all the recordings by the greatest Jazz musician of all times, saxophonist / composer John ColtraneFind albums by this artist, recorded for the legendary PrestigeFind albums on this label label. The only Coltrane recordings missing in this set are those he recorded with Miles DavisFind albums by this artist (which are available on the "Chronicle: The Complete Prestige Recordings Of Miles DavisFind albums with this title" Box Set) and therefore this Box Set misses the "complete" element in favor of avoiding unnecessary duplication.
The vast amount of music included here, which fills 16 CDs, was recorded during 25 recording sessions, the first of which took place on May 7, 1956 and the last on December 26, 1958: a period of about two and a half years. Part of the music features Coltrane as a sideman and the rest as a leader. Forty two other players, beside Coltrane, participate in these recordings, a list of names which reads like the encyclopedia of American Jazz in the 1950s.
The Prestige era was a vital part of Coltrane´s ever changing path towards spiritual and artistic unity. His stint with Miles Davis and the sessions collected here were his rite of passage between his early years and his Big Bang, which will occur just a few years later after Coltrane switched from Prestige to AtlanticFind albums on this label and then finally to Impulse!Find albums on this label Coltrane firmly believed in paying the dues and mastering one´s skills before taking the liberty to step across the boundaries of the known musical universe. Although he does not actually cross any boundaries on these recordings, he certainly gets to develop the tools and experience, which are crucial in order to be able to do so. His playing here is simply perfect, any way one looks at it. Technically his phrasing, fluidity, timbre, harmonic progression and the complete control of the instrument (he plays only tenor saxophone on all these recordings) and the rest his musician´s arsenal are simply astounding. Emotionally his music matures and achieves a level of focus previously never encountered. It is quite obvious that without this period the revolutionary developments, which were just around the corner, would have never happened.
These sessions reveal the fact that the intensity of Coltrane´s life as a musician left little time for his talents as a composer to materialize in parallel. The entire Box Set includes only a small number of Coltrane´s original compositions; that aspect of his personality had to wait just a bit longer. However Coltrane discovered the African sources of Jazz during this time, which will become an important part of his future music, his emotional approach to Jazz and a part of his personal philosophy.
In historic perspective this music is a not only a superb synopsis of American mainstream, captured just moments before Free Jazz was about to shatter all the conventions and take it to the next existential level. This is simply the best music, made by the best musicians and therefore eternally a part of the canon of our Culture. And yes, it is also an essential listening experience, as a whole or part by part, chronologically or in reverse order, any way you wish, just please listen! Your life will never be the same again…
| | Updated: 26/01/2019Posted: | CD 16 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Essential Recommend To A Friend |
  | JOHN COLTRANE ~ THE HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION: THE COMPLETE ATLANTIC RECORDINGS
RHINO 71984 (Barcode: 081227198428) ~ USA ~ Jazz
Recorded: 1959 - 1961 Released: 1995
This magnificent Box Set compiles everything John ColtraneFind albums by this artist recorded for AtlanticFind albums on this label – his second long-term recording stint with a label following his PrestigeFind albums on this label period and preceding his final years on Impulse!Find albums on this label. The first 6 CDs include all the 10 Coltrane’s LPs released on Atlantic (Giant StepsFind albums with this title, Coltrane JazzFind albums with this title, My Favorite ThingsFind albums with this title, Bags & TraneFind albums with this title, Olé ColtraneFind albums with this title, Coltrane Plays The BluesFind albums with this title, Coltrane’s SoundFind albums with this title, The Avant-GardeFind albums with this title, The Coltrane LegacyFind albums with this title, Alternate TakesFind albums with this title), but the material is organized in chronological order (by session). The 7th CD adds over an hour of never before released material. All this music was recorded over a period of just over two years (January 1959 – May 1961), but it includes some of the most pivotal Jazz recordings ever. The Atlantic period is a superb document of transition for the Jazz Giant. Stylistically it presents the steady move from Bebop and Hard Bop to Free. Instrumentally it shows the shift from tenor saxophone to soprano saxophone. It also reveals the process of crystallization of Coltrane’s great classic quartet (see The Classic Quartet: Complete Impulse! Studio RecordingsFind albums with this title), whereas by October of 1960 three quarters of the quartet (with McCoy TynerFind albums by this artist on piano and Elvin JonesFind albums by this artist on drums) were already in place and only the bassist Jimmy GarrisonFind albums by this artist was to join soon after. Two of the sessions present here are collaborations with other co-credited Jazz Giants: “Bags & Trane” with the great vibraphonist Milt JacksonFind albums by this artist and “The Avant-Garde” with legendary trumpeter Don CherryFind albums by this artist. The music is of course divine – absolutely nothing I can say about it would ever come close to the experience of actually listening to it. This music influenced every Jazz musician and Jazz lover on earth and left a mark on contemporary music, which has no equals to this day. It also shows Coltrane as a great composer for the first time, with some of his greatest melodies like “Giant Steps” and “Naima”. His interpretation of “My Favorite Things” is of course probably the most commonly known Jazz anthem ever. This sublime music is an integral part of Art’s cannon and an everlasting evidence of human (or perhaps super-human) genius. Absolutely essential!
| | Updated: 12/04/2019Posted: | CD 7 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend |
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