John Coltrane's time first at Atlantic and then with Impulse
yielded a staggeringly impressive amount of recordings, not to mention the
sheer quality of each. There was too a fair share of overlap in both his labels
contracts too, meaning that when 'Ole' (also sometimes referred to as 'Ole
Coltrane') hit the record stores, 'Trane's debut for Impulse, 'Africa/Brass',
had in fact just been released the year before. Not though that this was any
backwards-looking, vault-digging, barrel-scraping release - far from it in
fact.
The double bass opening to the title track is a wonderfully
atmospheric acoustic-funk before there was funk intro that quickly ushers in
some highly rhythmic Spanish piano courtesy of the then still underrated McCoy
Tyner, and it is these two instruments (although technically three, with bass
duties handled by both Art Davis and Reggie Workman) that create the strong
setting, with just a flavour of the similarly themed 'Sketches Of Spain' by
former Coltrane employer Miles Davis.
Featuring some inspired improvisational work from second saxman
and occasional flautist 'George Lane' (actually Eric Dolphy who was not
officially credited, due to being on the Prestige label at the time) and
trumpeter Freddie Hubbard (who is credited, with thanks given to Blue Note), as
well as some skilled bass work. It is though fully Tyner's moment, anchoring
the whole piece with flair and soul, and then cutting loose for some of the
very best soloing here and of his career.
Vibrant, complex and seductively rhythmic, the rest of the album
has a lot to live up to following this epic eighteen-minute introduction.
'Dahomey Dance' then does not disappoint, except on pulling back on the more
overt Spanish sound and allowing drummer Elvin Jones more room to show his considerable
muscle, whereas 'Aisha' is a slow and wistful ballad that yearningly haunts
from the speakers. More than just one of Tyner's very finest compositions, it
is arguably one of, if not the, finest of the collaborations between Coltrane
and Tyner. Hubbard and 'Lane' though both ensure that their time in the
spotlight is not wasted.
Not perhaps one of John Coltrane’s most famous of albums, it is
one of his most engaging and consistent listens that should at least be
considered up there close to 'My Favourite Things' – certainly it's one of the
easiest to sink into. And as a bonus, many newer editions now end with the
original 'Ole' sessions out-take 'Original Untitled Ballad (To Her Ladyship)'. This
is simply classic and out-standing music from ‘Trane.
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