Ok, continuing on with listening to my record collection in alphabetical order.  This time, John Coltrane, with one tricky aspect: a LP shaped box of CDs.

• Turning Point, The Bethlehem Years – These are all 1957 recordings, and they catch Trane at a pivotal moment in his evolution, fully ensconced in his “Sheets of Sound” phase, not exactly patternistic, bringing more density into the harmonic aspect of his compositions, but not yet a Giant Steps level of density.  This recording sounds very much like the Blue Trane dates;  both are 1957, “Pristine” from Turning Point, has much in common with “Moments Notice” from Blue Trane.  “Turtle Walk” also has this great implied double time groove that is on “Blue Trane.”  Lovely, straight ahead playing.
• The Prestige Recordings – This (CD) boxed set covers the complete recordings of John Coltrane for the record label Prestige, from May 24, 1956 through October 26, 1956, with the exception of the recordings he made with Miles Davis during that time.  I have that boxed set, too, so stay tuned.  Ok, so “Tenor Madness” is just perfect.  I wonder if Sonny Rollins thought it was time for the head out during his chorus of trading about half way through, when he quoted the melody.  I also love this collection because of the massive amount of Paul Chambers, who is absolutely ferocious throughout.  The Elmo Hope session (May 7, 1956) shreds, as does the Tenor Conclave session, September 7, 1956.  Those three sessions nicely show what great 1950s tenor playing was all about, what with Trane, Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley, Al Cohn and Zoot Sims all present.  The Tadd Dameron date (Mating Call) is a classic.  “On a Misty Night” is one of those amazing tunes that nobody plays.  “Anatomy,” the great contrafact on “All the Things You Are,” from the session with Paul Quinichette, is a real stand out for me.  I spent a good deal of time with “Bass Blues” back in 1988.  One session I do have a problem with resulted in the Red Garland records Dig It and High Pressure.  For me, the groove is a bit anxious on the medium/up tunes.  I think that is partially the result of the bassist’s approach.  On these recordings, Jamil Nasser tended to play more mid/upper register lines, and rather than primarily chord tones, his lines were more scalar in nature.  Those two aspects make – in my opinion – the music feel anxious, somewhat claustrophobic.  On “Lover,” a blazing fast version on disc 12, we hear something that doesn’t happen that often – Paul Chambers stumbles and really seems to suffer on this tune.  In his defense, man, it’s freaking fast…  And then, there’s “Russian Lullabye,” the piece that made “sheets of sound” famous.  Phew.  That was amazing.  16 Cds of absolute perfection.
• The Coltrane Legacy – An Atlantic LP featuring unreleased outtakes from the great Atlantic sessions (listen to Coltrane Sound or Coltrane Jazz if you don’t believe me).  “26-2” is shredding, and “To Her Ladyship” is an absolute masterpiece.  I have always been partial to “Stairway to the Stars,” and this Milt Jackson/’Trane version is especially great.  On tiny point of personal preference: I don’t agree with Connie Kay’s cross stick use on “Blues Legacy.”  Oh, and strangely enough, some of these pieces were engineered by Phil Ramone, of Billy Joel fame.
• Coltrane Plays the Blues – Speaking of Atlantic sessions…  This is a nice record, but not my favorite of the Atlantic period.  I think Elvin is not quite Elvin and McCoy is not quite McCoy, and Steve Davis – great, though he was – is just not quite in the same ballpark as the others.  I note, especially, his lines on “Blues to You,” which are very root, third, fifth, or scalar in nature, and the beat is really anxious feeling.
• Coltranology, Volume 1 – This Affinity release is totally essential.  It captures the “Classic” Quintet (Reggie Workman instead of Jimmy Garrison) in an incredible concert in Stockholm.  Eric Dolphy is absolutely ferocious on this.
• Bye Bye Blackbird: His Greatest Concert Performance – Hyperbole aside, this is amazing.  An incredible 1962 live date with the “Classic” Quartet.
• The Paris Concert – Another 1962 live recording of the “Classic” Quartet.
• Coltranology, Volume 2 – Another Affinity release of a Stockholm concert.  It’s an amazing 1963 “Classic” Quartet concert.  Elvin is terrifying on this.
• Live at Birdland – Wow.  This is essential.  Checking to see if there’s a boxed set…looks like the answer is no, but the CD has one additional track.  Man, this is incredible.
• Sun Ship – Another absolutely incredible record.  I think this is another essential record, but this one is a bit less for the faint of heart than Live at Birdland.
• Kulu Se Mama – What a great record.  Too bad my LP copy is hopelessly warped.  Can’t listen to it.  But the good news is that I have it on CD…
• Reflections – This recording was made “live” at the Half Note in 1965.  Adventurous, ferocious, beautiful.  I especially like the spot, towards the end of “Chim Chim Eree” when Coltrane was using one of the devices he uses on “A Love Supreme.”  He was way too awesome.

Of course, I have MANY Coltrane CDs, but they are all the way across the room from these LPs (with the Prestige boxed set being the notable exception).

Enjoy.

R.