John Coltrane

[Dr. Dread]

It seems this jazz musician gets rave reviews for almost every recording he's ever made. What are your favorite recordings? And do you believe it's "all good" when it comes to JC?

[Josquin des Prez]

I own pretty much every recording he has ever made, and i can attest that not everything he has recorded is a masterpiece. To the contrary, i see Coltrane as somewhat of a late bloomer, coming into his own only during the late 50s. I also don't think he ever became as great a band leader as, say, Miles Davis, but i'm convinced that he was, without a doubt, the greatest Jazz soloist of all times. My opinion of course.

[Dr. Dread]

Thanks, guys. That helps!

[karlhenning]

"Sickest" helps? 

[Dr. Dread]

"Sickest" helps? 

I'm hep to the jive.

[Dr. Dread]

Oh and Dave he did some great stuff with Miles's first quintet i.e. Cookin', Relaxin' & Streamin'

Great. I'll add those to the list.

[Josquin des Prez]

BTW, as far as his solo recordings go, i recommend My favored things and Giant Steps for an overview of his classic style, while Interstellar space is a good introduction to his later, more avant-gardish phase. Kudos to James for recommending First meditations over the more cacophonic Meditations which suffers from poor levels of communications between the members of the larger ensemble.

[Dr. Dread]

BTW, as far as his solo recordings go, i recommend My favored things and Giant Steps for an overview of his classic style...

I have those two and they are classics IMO. Will note the other one.

[Henk]

Giant Steps
The John Coltrane Quartet Plays

[Dr. Dread]

Giant Steps
The John Coltrane Quartet Plays

Another one to add. 

[Franco]

A Love Supreme
John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
Olé Coltrane
Blue Trane

These I prefer better than Giant Steps, although the previous suggestions are all worth owning.  His work with Miles Davis is very good, Kind of Blue, 'Round Midnight, Milestones stand out, imo.

If you care to drop some change, the Prestige box set contains all of Coltranes pre-modal recordings and is excellent.  There are several good box sets of the modal years as well, Impulse has one, there's a great live at the Village Vanguard, and one of all the Atlantic sides.

[Dr. Dread]

A Love Supreme
John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman
Olé Coltrane
Blue Trane

These I prefer better than Giant Steps, although the previous suggestions are all worth owning.  His work with Miles Davis is very good, Kind of Blue, 'Round Midnight, Milestones stand out, imo.

If you care to drop some change, the Prestige box set contains all of Coltranes pre-modal recordings and is excellent.  There are several good box sets of the modal years as well, Impulse has one, there's a great live at the Village Vanguard, and one of all the Atlantic sides.

Thanks! I have the Johnny Hartman already. That's a nice late night album.

Box sets! I can do that. 

[Dr. Dread]

Now playing:

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

A Love Supreme is one of the greatest things I've ever heard, and should appeal to classical listeners due to its 4-mvt. quasi-symphonic form. The "finale" (with Elvin Jones on timpani!) reminds me oddly of Mahler in its emotional nakedness.

Still haven't nerved myself to listen to his very late stuff, like Ascension.

[Dr. Dread]

Is A Love Supreme a difficult listen?

[Franco]

Is A Love Supreme a difficult listen?

No. 

[Josquin des Prez]

Still haven't nerved myself to listen to his very late stuff, like Ascension.

I think late Coltrane works best with the smaller ensembles. The problem is that he couldn't communicate his vision to his band mates, so there was little communications between him and them. This isn't just my opinion. There is an interview with McCoy Tyner where he flat out admits he was playing random notes most of the times. 

[Josquin des Prez]

Is A Love Supreme a difficult listen?

No. Ascension is thought.

[Henk]

Another one to add. 

Hi Dave, you're a clever boy.

[Dr. Dread]

Hi Dave, you're a clever boy.

Keep it comin'.