Tag: John Coltrane

John Coltrane – The Atlantic Studio Album Collection (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96kHz | Time – 05:06:47 minutes | 11.2 GB | Genre: Jazz
Official Digital Download – Source: highresaudio.com | © Atlantic Records
Recorded: 1959-61

During Coltrane’s Atlantic years, he made important recordings such as Giant Steps and My Favorite Things, recorded albums with Milt Jackson, Don Cherry, and Eric Dolphy and made his debut on the soprano saxophone. The Penguin Guide to Jazz assigned its “Crown” award to the box set, in addition to giving it a four-star rating (of a possible four). Allmusic gave the album a five-star rating (of a possible five). Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that “the scope of this music is, quite simply, breathtaking — not only was Coltrane developing at a rapid speed, but the resulting music encompasses nearly every element that made him a brilliant musician, and it is beautiful.”

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John Coltrane – Coltrane ’58: The Prestige Recordings (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/192 kHz | Time – 05:37:46 minutes | 12 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Craft Recordings

Newly remastered by Paul Blakemore featuring 37 tracks: Coltrane’s breakout year, when his mature sound first grabbed ears and his own recordings began to sell consistently, was 1958. This release chronicles the exciting story session by session, featuring all 37 tracks Coltrane recorded as a leader or co-leader for the independent Prestige Records label in those twelve months. This collection captures him in creative high gear—developing the signature improvisational style that journalist Ira Gitler famously dubbed “sheets of sound.”

The timely release marks the 70th year since the founding of Prestige and comes just after the 60th anniversary of these recordings.

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John Coltrane – Live At The Village Vanguard (1962/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/192 kHz | Time – 36:42 minutes | 1,61 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: AcousticSounds | Front Cover | © Verve Reissues

The recordings made by John Coltrane and his band at the Village Vanguard over four nights in early November 1961 had to be divided up over two LPs at the time, collectively ranked by All About Jazz at number two on its list of the 10 best live jazz records. For these performances Coltrane expanded his usual lineup to include Eric Dolphy on alto saxophone and bass clarinet, which brought new possibilities to the front line and to the music performed during the four nights. Live At The Village Vanguard has gone on to become one of Coltrane’s most successful releases.

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John Coltrane – Blue World (Mono Remastered) (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/192 kHz | Time – 36:33 minutes | 1,7 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Front cover | © Impulse!

In 1964, the National Film Board of Canada asked John Coltrane to record the soundtrack for a French-language film titled ‘Le chat dans le sac” (“The Cat in the Bag”). Amazingly, no announcement was made that the iconic Coltrane was adding new performances to this film. In June of that year, Coltrane’s Classic Quartet entered Rudy Van Gelder’s studio and recorded five previously-recorded Coltrane originals. For many years, viewers of the film who recognized the music thought that they were listening to the original recordings, though in fact they were new and had never been heard. Now, with the release of Blue World , we can hear these newly-discovered recordings for the first time

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John Coltrane – Bahia (1965/2016)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 36:22 minutes | 1,39 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download – Source: HDTracks | Booklet, Front cover | © Prestige Records

Recorded over two sessions in 1958, this album was compiled and released in 1965 by John Coltrane’s former record label to capitalize on his growing fame and success. Coltrane is joined by Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, Wilbur Harden on flugelhorn and trumpet, Red Garland on piano and drummer Art Taylor on one session; the other set features Jimmy Cobb on drums while bassist Paul Chambers appears on all tracks.

Bahia was released in 1965 and contains tracks from two separate recording sessions at the Rudy Van Gelder studio in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1958. The tracks had been unissued previously and as Coltrane’s fame grew during the ’60s, Prestige used the recordings to create new albums long after Coltrane stopped recording for the label. When Bahia was recorded in late 1958, John Coltrane was running out of patience with the standard song form as a vehicle for improvisation. Although he would go on to make one unforgettable album of standards in the early 1960s, by mid-1959 his incredible energies were increasingly directed into modal and scalar channels that would lead him to some of the most expansive and, ultimately, mysterious creative expression in all of jazz. Bahia presents Coltrane still working within the song form. He all but explodes it in the title tune and, particularly, “Goldsboro Express.” But in the album’s lovely ballads, he caresses and embellishes the melodies and chords as if preparing to bid them a reluctant farewell.

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John Coltrane – Simply … Coltrane! (2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 03:29:35 minutes | 1,83 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Jube Legends

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John Coltrane – Interplay For 2 Trumpets And 2 Tenors (1957/2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 51:41 minutes | 311 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Prestige

Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors is an album by Idrees Sulieman, Webster Young, John Coltrane and Bobby Jaspar. The album is credited to “The Prestige All Stars,” a title sometimes used by Prestige Records in the late 1950s to refer to a number of its popular jazz musicians. The album also features Mal Waldron, Kenny Burrell, Paul Chambers and Art Taylor.

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John Coltrane – John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman (1963/2021)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time – 31:10 minutes | 689 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Impulse!

John Coltrane’s matchup with singer Johnny Hartman, although quite unexpected, works extremely well. Hartman was in prime form on the six ballads, and his versions of “Lush Life” and “My One and Only Love” have never been topped. Coltrane’s playing throughout the session is beautiful, sympathetic, and still exploratory; he sticks exclusively to tenor on the date. At only half an hour, one wishes there were twice as much music, but what is here is classic, essential for all jazz collections. – Scott Yanow

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John Coltrane – Giant Steps (60th Anniversary Super Deluxe Edition) (2020)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/192 kHz | Time – 02:06:32 minutes | 3,92 GB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Rhino Atlantic

John Coltrane’s Giant Steps is one of the most important albums in American music history. The 1960 release marked the first time Coltrane ever released an album entirely of his own compositions; the title track is considered an essential part of the jazz canon. To celebrate the album’s 60th anniversary, two new reissues have been announced: a deluxe edition (featuring remastered audio and eight alternate takes) and a super deluxe edition (featuring 20 additional outtakes).

The 60th anniversary editions of Giant Steps arrive digitally, as well as on vinyl and CD, on September 18 (via Rhino). Below, watch a trailer for the reissue and hear a remastered version of “Naima.”

Multiple tracks from Giant Steps are considered jazz standards. “People like to talk about Giant Steps as a test for young horn players and how he’s breaking new ground with some of the pieces,” John Coltrane’s son Ravi Coltrane said in a press release. “But it’s the accessibility that stands out for me. The accessibility, despite how challenging some of the material is. It’s still all very listenable and very joyful. John’s music is a joy to study and to play. It’s a joy to listen to.”

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