For longtime jazz connoisseurs, the name John Coltrane exemplifies greatness, the late sax legend appearing on so many vintage recordings during the 1950s and 1960s, either as a solo artist/leader or sideman, that it's hard to believe he died so young at the age of 40 with such a huge body of work already accomplished. For the newbie, diving into the Coltrane repertoire can seem a daunting task, but thankfully, this 4CD retrospective from the folks at Trapeze/Acrobatic Music will give anyone who is discovering the genius of John Coltrane for the first time a great overview to the many sessions and records he worked on over the years. And for the loyal Coltrane follower, chances are you might find some hidden gems here on Trane 90 that you hadn't heard before.
Complete with 35 tracks, there's ample opportunity to touch on many of the classic albums and sessions Coltrane was involved with, starting of course with his work in the Mile Davis Quintet and both the Thelonius Monk Trio & Quartet, of which CD 1 is completely dedicated to all three bands. Legendary songs "Trane's Blues", "Straight, No Chaser", "Monk's Mood", "On Green Dolphin Street", and "Trinkle Tinkle" are included here, among some other gems, each one a fine example of Coltrane's roaring, soaring sax lines, either opposite Davis' fiery trumpet or Monk's majestic piano. CD2 kicks off with "Straight Street", and starts the introduction to John's career as a band leader, with mandatory tracks "Giant Steps", "Naima", and "Chasin' the Trane" just to name a few of the stellar compositions here in this set, each one chock full of Coltrane's keen sense of melody as well as supreme musical chops.
Over on Disc 3, we have a selection of songs where Coltrane appeared in the studio supporting his many well known jazz friends, like Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins, Red Garland, Cannonball Adderley, and others. Acting more as a 'guest star' , John's signature voice drops in from time to time on tracks such as "Bob's Boys", "Grand Central", "Soultrane", "Tenor Madness" (Coltrane & Rollins- a must hear!), and "Bags & Trane", where he solos alongside Milt Jackson. The fourth disc in this collection comprises some select live recordings, broadcasts, and private tapes, solo, as sideman, and guest, in places like New York's Birdland, the Blue Note in Philadelphia, Newport Jazz Festival, Los Angeles, Finland, and on the Tonight Show.
Yes, there's a LOT of music here, and though John Coltrane is the featured artist let's not forget the contributions of his many bandmates as well as those established acts that had the sax legend appear on their own recordings; there is fine playing from everyone involved here, the classic jazz era well represented by these 35 tracks. To follow along, there is a thick 48 page booklet included, loaded with photos, detailed track listing, and a biographical essay written in 2016 by Simon Spillett, so get comfortable, dim the lights, pour yourself a nice hot beverage or spirit of your choice, and dig into some vintage jazz sounds from the master.
See more about this release on our recent YouTube show!
Track Listing
Disc: 1
1. Stablemates
2. Trane'S Blues
3. Dear Old Stockholm
4. Well, You Needn'T
5. Monk'S Mood
6. Trinkle Tinkle
7. Straight, No Chaser
8. So What
9. On Green Dolphin Street (Live)
Disc: 2
1. Straight Street
2. Moment'S Notice
3. Good Bait
4. Giant Steps
5. Naima
6. Blues To Bechet
7. Africa
8. Chasin' The Trane
Disc: 3
1. Tenor Madness
2. Bob'S Boys
3. Soultrane
4. Two Bass Hit
5. Pristine
6. West 42nd Street
7. Manhattan
8. Just Friends
9. Bags & Trane
10. Grand Central
Disc: 4
1. Birks' Works
2. Don'T Blame Me
3. Max Is Making Wax
4. Tune Up
5. Bye Bye Blackbird
6. My Favourite Things
7. Impressions
8. Body And Soul
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