The fact that this is not John Coltrane's greatest achievement (not even, perhaps, his second greatest) is the highest compliment I can pay to the man. I would love to have for one moment a tenth of the genius reflected in this album, and the fact that he topped it is a testament to his greatness. I hope that in a thousand years this is among what archeologists will find in their investigations of the twentieth century.
It was released in 1961, and marked the introduction of his classic John Coltrane Quartet, with pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones, and bassist Steve Davis (later replaced by Jimmy Garrison). It was also the first recording to feature Coltrane on soprano sax, and did a great deal to popularize the instrument.
Despite Coltrane's adventurousness, and his exploration of the then-innovative modal jazz style (check out Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool for another seminal work in the genre), the album is extremely accessible, and enjoyed (then as now) widespread appeal.
track list
- My Favorite Things
- Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
- Summertime
- But Not For Me
The title track is a version of the recognizable tune from The Sound of Music. Thirteen-plus minutes long and in 6/4 time, it showcases both Coltrane's skilled improvisation and a long piano solo by Tyner. The confidence of the quartet is obvious, and the polished, beautiful results make this a memorable, classic piece of music.
Track two is an emotional, lyrical take on Cole Porter's classic song, with Coltrane's sax doing the vocals. Trane is unusually restrained, allowing the emotion to conquer his usually frantic style, and Tyner's piano playing is ineffably wonderful. The overall feeling is tasteful, and if perhaps less daring than the rest of the album, it's a beautiful performance.
Coltrane's take on Gershwin's "Summertime" is maybe the best track on the album. It showcases Trane's sheets of sound style, as well as excellent drumming and another great solo by Tyner. Confrontational, exciting, and wild, it's a remarkable and unique interpretation of the tune.
"But Not For Me" is exciting, vibrant, and dancy, and another interesting and radical approach to a standard. Free and loose, it's another showcase for Coltrane's improvisational skill and his innovation.
This album is rightly regarded as a classic, as well as a turning point in Coltrane's too-short career. It reflects both his grounding in more traditional jazz (and his involvement with Miles Davis) and his innovative style that later led him to be an important member in the free jazz movement. His classic quartet got its start here, and it set the stage for his later, wilder works.