Spotlight On: John Coltrane

[Ojai Sam]

Coltrane Jazz (Atlantic LP 1354)
John Coltrane (tenor sax) Wynton Kelly (piano) Paul Chambers (bass) Jimmy Cobb (drums)
NYC, November 24, 1959
3885-1 I'll Wait And Pray
3886 Little Old Lady

same personnel
NYC, December 2, 1959
3891 Like Sonny
3892 Harmonique
3895 My Shining Hour
3897 Some Other Blues
3898 Fifth House

John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Steve Davis (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
NYC, October 21, 1960
5118 Village Blues

 

[Ojai Sam]

I couldn't choose between these two masterpieces so today we get a pair of bonus discs:

Milt Jackson & John Coltrane - Bags & Trane (Atlantic LP 1368)
John Coltrane (tenor sax) Milt Jackson (vibes) Hank Jones (piano) Paul Chambers (bass) Connie Kay (drums)
NYC, January 15, 1959

Cannonball Adderley - In Chicago (Mercury MG 20449)
Cannonball Adderley (alto sax -1/3,5) John Coltrane (tenor sax) Wynton Kelly (piano) Paul Chambers (bass) Jimmy Cobb (drums)
Universal Recording, Studio B, Chicago, IL, February 3, 1959

 

[JazzyRandy]

How did I miss this thread until recently?????

I hope to catch up and comment along the way. I've wanted to review his career chronologically for a while. No better time than now. I have most of his albums and all I need is the time and ... ahem ... focus.

 

[Ojai Sam]

1960:

My Favorite Things (Atlantic LP 1361)
John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Steve Davis (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
NYC, October 21, 24 & 26, 1960

 

[Ojai Sam]

Coltrane's Sound (Atlantic LP 1419)
John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Steve Davis (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
NYC, October 24 & 26, 1960

 

[Ojai Sam]

Coltrane Plays The Blues (Atlantic LP 1382)
John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Steve Davis (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
NYC, October 24, 1960

 

[Ojai Sam]

Today's bonus disc:

John Coltrane & Don Cherry - The Avant-Garde (Atlantic LP 1451)
Don Cherry (cornet) John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) Charlie Haden (bass) Ed Blackwell (drums)
NYC, June 28, 1960
4662 Cherryco
4663 The Blessing

Don Cherry (cornet) John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) Percy Heath (bass) Ed Blackwell (drums)
NYC, July 8, 1960
4688 Focus On Sanity
4690 The Invisible
4691 Bemsha Swing

 

[Ojai Sam]

PART III - THE IMPULSE! YEARS (1961-1967)
In the final phase of his recording career, John Coltrane took his quartet to places that no one had even imagined before.

1961:

Africa/Brass (Impulse! A-6)
Freddie Hubbard, Booker Little (trumpet) Jimmy Buffington, Donald Corrado, Bob Northern, Robert Swisshelm, Julius Watkins (French horn) Charles Greenlee, Julian Priester (euphonium) Bill Barber (tuba) Garvin Bushell (piccolo, reeds) John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) Eric Dolphy (alto sax, flute, bass clarinet) Pat Patrick (baritone sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) McCoy Tyner (arranger) Eric Dolphy (orchestrator, conductor)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, May 23, 1961
Greensleeves

Booker Little (trumpet) Britt Woodman (trombone) Donald Corrado, Bob Northern, Robert Swisshelm, Julius Watkins (French horn) Carl Bowman (euphonium) Bill Barber (tuba) Eric Dolphy (alto sax, flute, bass clarinet) John Coltrane (tenor sax) Pat Patrick (baritone sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Art Davis (bass -2) Elvin Jones (drums) John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner (arranger) Eric Dolphy (orchestrator, conductor)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 7, 1961
1. Blues Minor
2. Africa

 

[Ojai Sam]

Ole Coltrane (Atlantic LP 1373)
Freddie Hubbard (trumpet) John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) Eric Dolphy (alto sax, flute) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Art Davis (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
A&R Recording Studios, NYC, May 25, 1961

 

[Ojai Sam]

Impressions (Impulse! A-42)
John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) on the last note only: Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet)
"Village Vanguard", NYC, November 3, 1961
10575 Impressions

Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison, Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
"Village Vanguard", NYC, November 3, 1961
India

John Coltrane (tenor sax) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, September 18, 1962
11094 Up 'Gainst The Wall

John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Roy Haynes (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, April 29, 1963
11466 After The Rain

 

[Ojai Sam]

Ballads (Impulse! A-32)
John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 21, 1961
10670-? It's Easy To Remember

John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, September 18, 1962
11092 Nancy (With The Laughing Face)
11093 What's New

John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, November 13, 1962
11161 Too Young To Go Steady
11162-3 All Or Nothing At All
11163 I Wish I Knew
11165-5 You Don't Know What Love Is
11166-1 Say It (Over And Over Again)

 

[Ojai Sam]

Today's bonus is a blockbuster, 4 discs worth of live growth and experimentation with different ensembles in a sympathetic venue that set the tone for the balance of Trane's career.

The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings (Impulse! IMPD-4-232)

Septet
Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison, Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) Ahmed Abdul-Malik (oud)
"Village Vanguard", NYC, November 1, 1961
India

Eric Dolphy (alto sax) John Coltrane (tenor sax) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Chasin' The Trane (alternate take)

Eric Dolphy (alto sax) John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Impressions (alternate take)

Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Spiritual (alternate take)

Eric Dolphy (alto sax) John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
10570 The Red Planet (as Miles' Mode)

Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Naima

Eric Dolphy (alto sax) John Coltrane (tenor sax) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
10571 Untitled Original (as Brasilia)

Nonet
Eric Dolphy (alto sax) John Coltrane (tenor sax) Reggie Workman (bass) Roy Haynes (drums) on the first two choruses only: McCoy Tyner (piano)
"Village Vanguard", NYC, November 2, 1961
Chasin' Another Trane

Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison, Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) Garvin Bushell (oboe) Ahmed Abdul-Malik (oud)
India

Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (tenor, soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) Garvin Bushell (contrabassoon)
Spiritual

John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
10572 Softly As In A Morning Sunrise

John Coltrane (tenor sax) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) on the last note only: Eric Dolphy (alto sax)
10576 Chasin' The Trane

John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
10573 Greensleeves

Eric Dolphy (alto sax) John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Impressions

Sextet
Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (tenor, soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
"Village Vanguard", NYC, November 3, 1961
Spiritual

Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
10574 Naima

John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) on the last note only: Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet)
10575 Impressions

Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison, Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
India Impulse!

John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Greensleeves (take 2)

Eric Dolphy (alto sax) John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison, Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
The Red Planet (as Miles' Mode)

Octet
Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison, Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) Garvin Bushell (oboe) Ahmed Abdul-Malik (oud)
"Village Vanguard", NYC, November 5, 1961
10556 India (alternate take)

Eric Dolphy (bass clarinet) John Coltrane (tenor, soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Reggie Workman (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) Garvin Bushell (contrabassoon)
10557 Spiritual (take 2)

 

[Ojai Sam]

1962:

Coltrane (Impulse! A-21)
John Coltrane (soprano sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, April 11, 1962
10874 The Inch Worm

Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 19, 1962
10980-2 Out Of This World
10981 Soul Eyes

Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 20, 1962
10984-1 Miles' Mode

Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 29, 1962
10992 Tunji (Toon-Gee)

Coltrane - Deluxe Edition (Impulse! 314 589 567-2)
same personnel
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 20, 1962
10983-1 Not Yet
10984-2 Miles' Mode
10985-1 Tunji
10985-4 -
10985-5 -
10985-7 -
10986-1 Impressions

 

[Ojai Sam]

This was a quiet year in the studio for Trane. For our bonus, let's enjoy a memento of his 1962 European tour and one of the mashups that Zeeba is justifiably fond of:

Duke Ellington & John Coltrane (Impulse! A-30)
John Coltrane (tenor, soprano sax) Duke Ellington (piano) Aaron Bell (bass -1,2,5,6) Jimmy Garrison (bass -3,4,7) Sam Woodyard (drums -1,5,6) Elvin Jones (drums -2/4,7)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, September 26, 1962

The Paris Concert (Pablo Live 2308-217)
John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)

"L'Olympia", Paris, France, 2nd concert, November 17, 1962
The Inch Worm
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

same personnel
"Salle Pleyel", Paris, France, November 1, 1963
Mr. P.C.

 

[Ojai Sam]

1963:

This year found Coltrane recording even less frequently than in 1962. Apart from a few stray tracks that wound up on compilations, here is his only regular studio album from 1963:

John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman (Impulse! A-40)
John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums) Johnny Hartman (vocals)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, March 7, 1963

Since there was not much going on in the studio, for our bonus let's go on the road with Trane. First, we have John's triumphant appearance at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 7, with Roy Haynes filling in on drums for the ailing Elvin Jones:

My Favorite Things - Coltrane At Newport (Impulse! B0009076-02)
"Newport Jazz Festival", Freebody Park, Newport, RI, July 7, 1963
John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Roy Haynes (drums)

Three months later, Coltrane took the quartet to the famed Birdland. Note that the last two tracks are actually from the studio:

Live At Birdland (Impulse! A-50)
John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
"Birdland", NYC, October 8, 1963
90001 The Promise
90003 I Want To Talk About You
90002 Afro Blue

same personnel
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, afternoon, November 18, 1963
90017 Your Lady
90018-4+5 Alabama

 

[Ojai Sam]

1964:

Crescent (Impulse! A-66)
John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, April 27 and June 1, 1964

 

[Ojai Sam]

A Love Supreme (Impulse! A-77)
John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 9, 1964

 

[Ojai Sam]

For the completists among us, I present as today's bonus the complete A Love Supreme masters, not merely the Deluxe Edition but the Super Deluxe Edition. You deserve no less.



In addition to a blizzard of alternate takes, we get the fruits of another day in the studio with Archie Shepp and Art Davis augmenting the quartet:

John Coltrane, Archie Shepp (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Art Davis, Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, December 10, 1964

90246-1 A Love Supreme: Part I - Acknowledgement (take 1/alternate)
90246-2 A Love Supreme: Part I - Acknowledgement (take 2/alternate)
90246-3 A Love Supreme: Part I - Acknowledgement (take 3/breakdown with studio dialogue)
90246-4 A Love Supreme: Part I - Acknowledgement (take 4/alternate)
90246-5 A Love Supreme: Part I - Acknowledgement (take 5/false start)
90246-6 A Love Supreme: Part I - Acknowledgement (take 6/alternate)

But the real highlight here is the last disc which presents the entire suite as played live at the "Juan-les-Pins Jazz Festival", Antibes on July 26, 1965.

 

[Ojai Sam]

1965:

Transition (Impulse! AS-9195)

John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Roy Haynes drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, May 26, 1965
90309 Dear Lord

John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 10, 1965
90315 Transition
90316 Suite: Prayer And Meditation: Day
- Suite: Peace And After
- Suite: Prayer And Meditation: Evening
- Suite: Affirmation
- Suite: Prayer And Meditation: 4 A.M.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Kulu Se Mama (Impulse! A-9106)

John Coltrane (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 10, 1965
90312 Welcome

John Coltrane (soprano, tenor sax) Elvin Jones (drums)
Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, June 16, 1965
90319 Vigil

John Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders (tenor sax) McCoy Tyner (piano) Jimmy Garrison (bass) Donald Garrett (bass, bass clarinet) Frank Butler, Elvin Jones (drums) Juno Lewis (vocals, percussion)
Western Recorders, Los Angeles, CA, October 14, 1965
90676 Kulu Se Mama (Juno Se Mama)