'Coltrane', one of John Coltrane's first sessions for Impulse,
is simultaneously one of the least well-known of the great saxophonists
releases, and one of the most favourite amongst his fans. Eponymously titled
and lacking any particular specific theme along the same lines as say the overt
spirituality of 'A Love Supreme', the obvious romanticism of 'Ballads', or the
large ensemble arrangements of 'Africa/Brass', means that it is often confined
by many lazy first-timers as being 'just another' in Coltrane's admittedly vast
discography. They're wrong.
To start things off, the album opens with a bona-fide classic,
here in the form of 'Out Of This World'. At fourteen minutes it's clearly the
intended centrepiece, and for those minutes it creates a spellbindingly
hypnotic sound that boasts an intense and swirling tenor sax lead. So enamoured
with this composition would 'Trane be, that he would throughout his career
frequently choose it as a concert staple, sitting up there with other such
pieces as 'Naima' and 'My Favorite Things'.
It though is not the only tune here - even if it is the most
famous. 'Miles Mode' shows a satisfyingly harder sound to 'Trane's tenor
playing, one that is evenly balanced by McCoy Tyner's shimmering crystal clear
piano work, while 'Tunji' offers more complex eastern-sounding moves that subtly
oozes just the right hint of menace. And for the fans of Coltrane's gentler
more romantic side, 'Soul Eyes' more than hits the mark, while 'The Inchworm'
showcases the lilting and yearning qualities of 'Trane's second trademark sound
on the soprano saxophone.
Despite, and also because of, the wide ranging variety in styles
in this session, it all adds up to make an incredibly satisfying listen, which
purely on musical merit is enough to recommend this album. But on top of that,
for trivia fans, this is the first solely 'classic quartet' recording of
Coltrane, Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones; and that surely should make
this somewhere near the top of anyone’s to-get Coltrane list.
*****
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