JOHN COLTRANE — Ballads (review)

JOHN COLTRANE — Ballads album cover Album · 1963 · Hard Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
jammun
Coltrane's Ballads gets little respect, being often regarded as something to satisfy the suits at Impulse. Yes, it's no A Love Supreme or Giant Steps.

The crew is however along for the ride, with particularly Tyner shining, delivering shimmering ripples across our minds, and Garrison and Jones providing almost nonexistent though essential bottom end. It's remarkable, really, how such innocuous stuff can sidle up to us, like a cat, and provide a certain warmth.

I came to know the album for its affinity for providing solace on a Sunday morning, after one too many pitchers or one too many gin & tonics on a Saturday night, awakening on a Sunday morning with sand on the tongue and hammering in the head. The cure was invariably many mimosas and a solid dose of Ballads.

As said, it's no A Love Supreme, nor even a Giant Step, but it's pure smooth jazz, even before there was such a thing. It curls up next to us, like said cat, and relaxes and caresses. If you have not already done so, throw out your Kenny G albums, immediately, and listen to the real thing.

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
Kazuhiro wrote:
more than 2 years ago
Wonderful review :-)

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Jazz Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

JMA TOP 5 Jazz ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
A Love Supreme Post Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
Kind of Blue Cool Jazz
MILES DAVIS
Buy this album from our partners
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Progressive Big Band
CHARLES MINGUS
Buy this album from our partners
Blue Train Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners
My Favorite Things Hard Bop
JOHN COLTRANE
Buy this album from our partners

New Jazz Artists

New Jazz Releases

Server Farm Eclectic Fusion
JON IRABAGON
Buy this album from MMA partners
Silent Moods Post-Fusion Contemporary
HENRIK GUNDE
Buy this album from MMA partners
New Dawn Progressive Big Band
MARSHALL ALLEN
Buy this album from MMA partners
Owls, Omens, and Oracles Pop/Art Song/Folk
VALERIE JUNE
Buy this album from MMA partners
Be Cool Vocal Jazz
NANCY KELLY
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Jazz Online Videos

Marshall Allen - New Dawn (Full Album Stream)
MARSHALL ALLEN
js· 2 days ago
Valerie June - Joy, Joy (In Studio Video)
VALERIE JUNE
js· 2 days ago
Goodbye Pork Pie Hat (Live at the Teatro Coliseo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 2, 1977)
CHARLES MINGUS
js· 2 days ago
Breaking Point (Live at the Blue Morocco in the Bronx, New York, April 10, 1967)
FREDDIE HUBBARD
js· 2 days ago
Blue Bossa (Live at the Blue Morocco in the Bronx, New York in 1967)
KENNY DORHAM
js· 2 days ago
More videos

New JMA Jazz Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Jazz News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed