What Coltrane is next?

Freddie Freeloader · April 29th, 2003, 02:42 PM

After taking everyone's suggestions from my "jazz noobie" thread, I am now starting to get recordings from my favorite guys.
What better place to start than with Coltrane??

I already have:
A Love Supreme
Giant Steps
Blue Train

I am not ready to buy any huge box sets yet, either.

TempleJazz · April 29th, 2003, 02:45 PM

John Coltrane w/ Johnny Hartman

My Favorite Things

Lush Life

John Coltrane/Duke Ellington

sal · April 29th, 2003, 02:51 PM

You can't go wrong with "Crescent". Amazing album.

Noj · April 29th, 2003, 03:15 PM

Africa Brass

Can one go wrong with 'Trane? (not rhetorical, answer please)

D.D. · April 29th, 2003, 03:35 PM

Interstellar Space, although it's a bit of a departure from Giant Steps...

Bev Stapleton · April 29th, 2003, 03:40 PM

Crescent is my favourite too. Gorgeous tunes.

EKE BBB · April 29th, 2003, 04:34 PM

A bit harder one, but esential, IMO: Ascension

tonym · April 29th, 2003, 04:39 PM

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Impulse)

my favourite Trane is always Trane playing ballads and the selection of tunes here is wonderful. The high point being 'Lush Life'. Of course, he used his regular quartet too.

king ubu · April 29th, 2003, 04:39 PM

preliminary thought about possibilities of "going wrong" with Trane: seem to be possibilities of, even several:
1) If you're not in the mood for another Prestige jam session situation you ought not to spin Wheelin' & Dealin', 2 Tenors & 2 Trumpets or Tenor Conclave (the Cattin' with Quinichette is, at least for me, something else - a very nice encounter with great Mal Waldron added to the mix, which emerges as something more than the "usual" jam session)
2) If you're not in the mood to listen to Ascension, don't do it (

). Same goes with the late stuff such as the 4CD Japanese stuff.
3) If you're not in the mood for the like "metaphysical strenght" of the quartet, don't listen to it...

Serious: Coltrane was one of my first and remains one of my imposing jazz experiences. An absolute favorite, a stellar musician - no words, actually, for what my experience with his music was.

Now to the recommendations: either you start at some point check out different of his "periods" and finally end up having all of his stuff, or you might go the way of going from one "period" to the next/last.

The early Trane

The 4 (actually 5, but the first "Miles" is hardly ever discussed and much less favorably) Prestige quintet albums of the Miles Davis Quintet (Steamin', Workin', Cookin', Relaxin') as well as the 6CD Columbia complete Miles/Coltrane box (no brainers)

Coltrane's various Prestige stuff: the leader sessions (with Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Art Taylor, sometimes adding Donald Byrd), the jams (the above mentioned and some more), the nice encounter with Tadd Dameron (though often dismissed I find I like it a lot, Trane's certainly in very good voice), the Paul Chambers Sessions (hopefully soon collected in a Mosaic Select) and finally the Monk recordings (half a studio LP for Riverside and the terribly sounding but musically stellar Five Spot disc on Blue Note)

The Atlantic Years

Giant Steps, Coltrane Jazz, Coltrane's Sound, My Favorite Things, Coltrane plays the Blues, Olé Coltrane and some more: they're all collected in a very nice box-set from Rhino called "The Heavyweight Champion". One of my all-time favorite box-sets! Wonderful music, Trane sounding fresh and exciting after the exhausting years of 56-58. His first encounters with McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones on record.

The Classic Quartet (and some more)

Coltrane's most well regarded and probably most influental period, the quartet with Tyner, Jones and Jimmy Garrison (Reggie Workman held the bass chair during the first year). Another nice box-set (The Classic Quartet); includes "Coltrane", the studio parts of "Live at Birdland", "Ballads", "Crescent" (one of my desert island discs), "Love Supreme", "Quartet Plays...", "First Meditations", "Transition", and much more. Very nice to follow the development of this great band.
As an addition there's the European Concerts 7CD set on Fantasy (which I don't have yet, but various of these recordings have been released several times on different labels, and there was some talk about the box having all wrong discographical data)
Then the "some more": The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings, a marvellous 4CD set documenting the quartet with Reggie Workman, Garrison added as a guest Dolphy part of the group and other guest musicians for a few arabic/african influenced tracks (Ahmed Abdul-Malik on oud, for instance). Another desert island set!
And the complete Africa/Brass sessions, some big band arrangements drapped around the quartet, and one of Elvin's most exciting solos on record.

which then would bring us on to...

The late Coltrane (free stuff):

Several more stellar albums: Ascension, Meditations, Interstellar Space (a duo with his band's last drummer Rashied Ali), several live recordings (a 2CD set from Seattle, a 4CD set from Japan, Village Vanguard Again, the late issue of the Tunji Concert) and the last studio recordings (besides Interstellar Space), Expression, Stellar Regions.
This is the band after Jones and Tyner left and were replaced by Alice Coltrane and Rashied Ali, often Pharoah Sanders (note spelling

) would join the group, as would bassist/bass clarinetist Don Garrett. In fact Trane plays the flute on the last sessions and even played bass clarinet on half of "Cosmic Music" (the rest was by Alice Coltrane, recorded after Trane' death).

Now I love all of this (except for the preliminary exceptions which are all questions of mood, but you CAN get an overdose of Coltrane if you're taking too much at the time...) - and certainly I forgot some important stuff. But start your path through Trane's discography and you will hopefully not be deceived but rather find records which you'll like forever!

thanks for reading

ubu

king ubu · April 29th, 2003, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bev Stapleton
Crescent is my favourite too. Gorgeous tunes.

"Wise One" seems to be my all time favorite of this disc!
What I love so much about "Crescent" is that it's a real group effort, much more than other discs of the quartet!

ubu

GaryG · April 30th, 2003, 01:46 AM

The perfect answer to your question is the new Legacy 4 CD collection , it covers all Tranes periods & labels.
I had about 13 different Trane titles (as a leader) but for some reason always felt i was only scratching the surface of his recordings - i bought this set & for some reason everything seems to make a lot more sense.
The tracks are chosen by his son Ravi & does include some unreleased material also.
It may be a bit more pricey than buying one or two more classic titles but i couldnt recommend it enough to a new Trane fan , i play it often.
But most importantly it contains beautiful , beautiful music.

Noj · April 30th, 2003, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by king ubu
preliminary thought about possibilities of "going wrong" with Trane: seem to be possibilities of, even several:
1) If you're not in the mood for another Prestige jam session situation you ought not to spin Wheelin' & Dealin', 2 Tenors & 2 Trumpets or Tenor Conclave (the Cattin' with Quinichette is, at least for me, something else - a very nice encounter with great Mal Waldron added to the mix, which emerges as something more than the "usual" jam session)
2) If you're not in the mood to listen to Ascension, don't do it ( ). Same goes with the late stuff such as the 4CD Japanese stuff.
3) If you're not in the mood for the like "metaphysical strenght" of the quartet, don't listen to it...

Serious: Coltrane was one of my first and remains one of my imposing jazz experiences. An absolute favorite, a stellar musician - no words, actually, for what my experience with his music was.

Now to the recommendations: either you start at some point check out different of his "periods" and finally end up having all of his stuff, or you might go the way of going from one "period" to the next/last.

The early Trane

The 4 (actually 5, but the first "Miles" is hardly ever discussed and much less favorably) Prestige quintet albums of the Miles Davis Quintet (Steamin', Workin', Cookin', Relaxin') as well as the 6CD Columbia complete Miles/Coltrane box (no brainers)

Coltrane's various Prestige stuff: the leader sessions (with Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Art Taylor, sometimes adding Donald Byrd), the jams (the above mentioned and some more), the nice encounter with Tadd Dameron (though often dismissed I find I like it a lot, Trane's certainly in very good voice), the Paul Chambers Sessions (hopefully soon collected in a Mosaic Select) and finally the Monk recordings (half a studio LP for Riverside and the terribly sounding but musically stellar Five Spot disc on Blue Note)

The Atlantic Years

Giant Steps, Coltrane Jazz, Coltrane's Sound, My Favorite Things, Coltrane plays the Blues, Olé Coltrane and some more: they're all collected in a very nice box-set from Rhino called "The Heavyweight Champion". One of my all-time favorite box-sets! Wonderful music, Trane sounding fresh and exciting after the exhausting years of 56-58. His first encounters with McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones on record.

The Classic Quartet (and some more)

Coltrane's most well regarded and probably most influental period, the quartet with Tyner, Jones and Jimmy Garrison (Reggie Workman held the bass chair during the first year). Another nice box-set (The Classic Quartet); includes "Coltrane", the studio parts of "Live at Birdland", "Ballads", "Crescent" (one of my desert island discs), "Love Supreme", "Quartet Plays...", "First Meditations", "Transition", and much more. Very nice to follow the development of this great band.
As an addition there's the European Concerts 7CD set on Fantasy (which I don't have yet, but various of these recordings have been released several times on different labels, and there was some talk about the box having all wrong discographical data)
Then the "some more": The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings, a marvellous 4CD set documenting the quartet with Reggie Workman, Garrison added as a guest Dolphy part of the group and other guest musicians for a few arabic/african influenced tracks (Ahmed Abdul-Malik on oud, for instance). Another desert island set!
And the complete Africa/Brass sessions, some big band arrangements drapped around the quartet, and one of Elvin's most exciting solos on record.

which then would bring us on to...

The late Coltrane (free stuff):

Several more stellar albums: Ascension, Meditations, Interstellar Space (a duo with his band's last drummer Rashied Ali), several live recordings (a 2CD set from Seattle, a 4CD set from Japan, Village Vanguard Again, the late issue of the Tunji Concert) and the last studio recordings (besides Interstellar Space), Expression, Stellar Regions.
This is the band after Jones and Tyner left and were replaced by Alice Coltrane and Rashied Ali, often Pharoah Sanders (note spelling ) would join the group, as would bassist/bass clarinetist Don Garrett. In fact Trane plays the flute on the last sessions and even played bass clarinet on half of "Cosmic Music" (the rest was by Alice Coltrane, recorded after Trane' death).

Now I love all of this (except for the preliminary exceptions which are all questions of mood, but you CAN get an overdose of Coltrane if you're taking too much at the time...) - and certainly I forgot some important stuff. But start your path through Trane's discography and you will hopefully not be deceived but rather find records which you'll like forever!

thanks for reading

ubu

In other words, "no." Thanks king ubu!

king ubu · April 30th, 2003, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Noj

In other words, "no." Thanks king ubu!

I think you got the point, Noj

!
I seem to be a huge Coltrane fan! Only got the lenght of my post when I had finished it!

ubu

Muskrat Ramble · May 1st, 2003, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Then the "some more": The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings, a marvellous 4CD set documenting the quartet with Reggie Workman, Garrison added as a guest Dolphy part of the group and other guest musicians for a few arabic/african influenced tracks (Ahmed Abdul-Malik on oud, for instance). Another desert island set!

Definitely an outstanding set. Another enthusiastic vote for it here.

EKE BBB · May 2nd, 2003, 06:47 AM

King Ubu:

After reading your post, I was more exhausted than after listening Ascension four or five times!

Now seriously, that´s a very good overview on Coltrane´s career!

April 29th, 2003, 02:42 PM	#1
Freddie Freeloader Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 13	What Coltrane is next? After taking everyone's suggestions from my "jazz noobie" thread, I am now starting to get recordings from my favorite guys. What better place to start than with Coltrane?? I already have: A Love Supreme Giant Steps Blue Train I am not ready to buy any huge box sets yet, either.

April 29th, 2003, 02:45 PM	#2
TempleJazz Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philly, Pa Posts: 34	John Coltrane w/ Johnny Hartman My Favorite Things Lush Life John Coltrane/Duke Ellington __________________ "Don't play what's there, play what's not there" -- Miles Davis "Music is your own experience, your thoughts, your wisdom. If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn. They teach you there's a boundary line to music. But, man, there's no boundary line to art." -- Bird

April 29th, 2003, 03:15 PM	#4
Noj Future Primitive Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 2,631	This was one of the first Coltrane albums I heard, and I would recommend it: Africa Brass Can one go wrong with 'Trane? (not rhetorical, answer please)

April 29th, 2003, 04:39 PM	#9
king ubu pataphysician Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: zurich, switzerland Posts: 252	preliminary thought about possibilities of "going wrong" with Trane: seem to be possibilities of, even several: 1) If you're not in the mood for another Prestige jam session situation you ought not to spin Wheelin' & Dealin', 2 Tenors & 2 Trumpets or Tenor Conclave (the Cattin' with Quinichette is, at least for me, something else - a very nice encounter with great Mal Waldron added to the mix, which emerges as something more than the "usual" jam session) 2) If you're not in the mood to listen to Ascension, don't do it ( ). Same goes with the late stuff such as the 4CD Japanese stuff. 3) If you're not in the mood for the like "metaphysical strenght" of the quartet, don't listen to it... Serious: Coltrane was one of my first and remains one of my imposing jazz experiences. An absolute favorite, a stellar musician - no words, actually, for what my experience with his music was. Now to the recommendations: either you start at some point check out different of his "periods" and finally end up having all of his stuff, or you might go the way of going from one "period" to the next/last. The early Trane The 4 (actually 5, but the first "Miles" is hardly ever discussed and much less favorably) Prestige quintet albums of the Miles Davis Quintet (Steamin', Workin', Cookin', Relaxin') as well as the 6CD Columbia complete Miles/Coltrane box (no brainers) Coltrane's various Prestige stuff: the leader sessions (with Red Garland, Paul Chambers, Art Taylor, sometimes adding Donald Byrd), the jams (the above mentioned and some more), the nice encounter with Tadd Dameron (though often dismissed I find I like it a lot, Trane's certainly in very good voice), the Paul Chambers Sessions (hopefully soon collected in a Mosaic Select) and finally the Monk recordings (half a studio LP for Riverside and the terribly sounding but musically stellar Five Spot disc on Blue Note) The Atlantic Years Giant Steps, Coltrane Jazz, Coltrane's Sound, My Favorite Things, Coltrane plays the Blues, Olé Coltrane and some more: they're all collected in a very nice box-set from Rhino called "The Heavyweight Champion". One of my all-time favorite box-sets! Wonderful music, Trane sounding fresh and exciting after the exhausting years of 56-58. His first encounters with McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones on record. The Classic Quartet (and some more) Coltrane's most well regarded and probably most influental period, the quartet with Tyner, Jones and Jimmy Garrison (Reggie Workman held the bass chair during the first year). Another nice box-set (The Classic Quartet); includes "Coltrane", the studio parts of "Live at Birdland", "Ballads", "Crescent" (one of my desert island discs), "Love Supreme", "Quartet Plays...", "First Meditations", "Transition", and much more. Very nice to follow the development of this great band. As an addition there's the European Concerts 7CD set on Fantasy (which I don't have yet, but various of these recordings have been released several times on different labels, and there was some talk about the box having all wrong discographical data) Then the "some more": The Complete 1961 Village Vanguard Recordings, a marvellous 4CD set documenting the quartet with Reggie Workman, Garrison added as a guest Dolphy part of the group and other guest musicians for a few arabic/african influenced tracks (Ahmed Abdul-Malik on oud, for instance). Another desert island set! And the complete Africa/Brass sessions, some big band arrangements drapped around the quartet, and one of Elvin's most exciting solos on record. which then would bring us on to... The late Coltrane (free stuff): Several more stellar albums: Ascension, Meditations, Interstellar Space (a duo with his band's last drummer Rashied Ali), several live recordings (a 2CD set from Seattle, a 4CD set from Japan, Village Vanguard Again, the late issue of the Tunji Concert) and the last studio recordings (besides Interstellar Space), Expression, Stellar Regions. This is the band after Jones and Tyner left and were replaced by Alice Coltrane and Rashied Ali, often Pharoah Sanders (note spelling ) would join the group, as would bassist/bass clarinetist Don Garrett. In fact Trane plays the flute on the last sessions and even played bass clarinet on half of "Cosmic Music" (the rest was by Alice Coltrane, recorded after Trane' death). Now I love all of this (except for the preliminary exceptions which are all questions of mood, but you CAN get an overdose of Coltrane if you're taking too much at the time...) - and certainly I forgot some important stuff. But start your path through Trane's discography and you will hopefully not be deceived but rather find records which you'll like forever! thanks for reading ubu __________________ Mais enfin je suis content de savoir maintenant assurément que ma chère épouse me volait. Je le sais maintenant de source sûre. Omnis a Deo scientia, ce qui veux dire: Omnis, toute; a Deo, science; scientia, vient de Dieu. Voilà l'explication du phénomène. Mais madame l'Apparition ne dit plus rien. Que ne puis-je lui offrir de quoi se réconforter. Ce qu'elle disait était très amusant. Tiens, mais il fait jour! Ah! Seigneur, de par mon cheval à finances, c'est la Mère Ubu!

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April 29th, 2003, 02:51 PM	#3
sal Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 508	You can't go wrong with "Crescent". Amazing album.

April 29th, 2003, 03:35 PM	#5
D.D. Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nyon, Switzerland Posts: 449	Interstellar Space, although it's a bit of a departure from Giant Steps...

April 29th, 2003, 03:40 PM	#6
Bev Stapleton Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 7,317	Crescent is my favourite too. Gorgeous tunes.

April 29th, 2003, 04:34 PM	#7
EKE BBB jazz seeker Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 1,816	A bit harder one, but esential, IMO: Ascension

April 29th, 2003, 04:39 PM	#8
tonym Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: north yorkshire, u.k Posts: 134	John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Impulse) my favourite Trane is always Trane playing ballads and the selection of tunes here is wonderful. The high point being 'Lush Life'. Of course, he used his regular quartet too.

April 30th, 2003, 01:46 AM	#11
GaryG Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Knowle , England Posts: 26	The perfect answer to your question is the new Legacy 4 CD collection , it covers all Tranes periods & labels. I had about 13 different Trane titles (as a leader) but for some reason always felt i was only scratching the surface of his recordings - i bought this set & for some reason everything seems to make a lot more sense. The tracks are chosen by his son Ravi & does include some unreleased material also. It may be a bit more pricey than buying one or two more classic titles but i couldnt recommend it enough to a new Trane fan , i play it often. But most importantly it contains beautiful , beautiful music.

May 2nd, 2003, 06:47 AM	#15
EKE BBB jazz seeker Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Madrid, Spain Posts: 1,816	King Ubu: After reading your post, I was more exhausted than after listening Ascension four or five times! Now seriously, that´s a very good overview on Coltrane´s career!