JOHN COLTRANE — Coltrane (aka Die Neue Welle Im Jazz) (review)

JOHN COLTRANE — Coltrane (aka Die Neue Welle Im Jazz) album cover Album · 1962 · Hard Bop Buy this album from MMA partners
4/5 ·
Sean Trane
One of the first albums Trane recorded for the label that really invested in order to allow John artistic and spiritual freedom, Coltrane strangely sports more of a Blue Note or Prestige album cover, rather than a livelier Impulse! orange-dominated photo shot. We are now in the classic quartet days where Garrison became the incumbent bassist (over Davis or Workman) behind the standout Elvin on skins and Tyner on keys. Recorded by the Thiele/VanGelder duo in the early summer at the latter’s studio, Coltrane is one of these lesser-known Impulse! gems that would deserve more attention, if it wasn’t drowned out in a sea of spectacular (or auracular ;o)) sea of release from Trane.

Opening on the aptly-titled 14-mins Out Of This World, the albums definitely forges an intense modal mood. Next to that immense intro, the Waldron-penned Soul Eyes pales in comparison, Definitely of moré interest is the haunting Inch Worm, which, while remaining fairly conventional, is much closer to the outer-world than its predecessor. The rest of the album consist of three Trane-penned tracks and right from the first notes of the awesome 6-mins Tunji, we know that we’re in an enchanting, if not haunted, planet, where Trane’s languorous sax is soaring like a solitary eagle over his mountainous territory. A fantastic slow groove closes the number. The following Miles’ Mode is an obvious homage to his former leader, and in some ways, Kind Of Blue is just around the corner, if slightly more adventurous. The closing Big Nick is probably one of the two weaker track on the album, partly due to its goofy opening and closing riff, (slightly reminiscent of a weird Pink Panther cartoon).

Again, this Coltrane album would definitely deserve more attention, if it wasn’t drowned in a sea of abundance of outstanding Impulse! post bop albums.

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