John Coltrane - Coltrane/Prestige 7105 - Analogue Productions CPRJ 7105 SA (2013)
Jazz, Hard Bop

Analogue Productions released 25 of the most collectible, rarest jazz titles ever in their Prestige Mono Series on Hybrid Mono SACD.
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Hybrid Mono SACD in Mini LP Jacket!
Mastered By Kevin Gray From Original Mono Master Tapes!

These SACD jackets feature printed wraps mounted to chipboard shells, producing an authentic, "old school" look & feel: also referred to as "mini LP" jackets.

John Coltrane, is in a sense, as Ira Gitler wrote in the liner notes to Coltrane's 1957 self-titled album - featuring his 1st session as a band leader - a new star, "but he has not arrived through high-pressure press agentry. He has been building on more solid ground."
From the time of his joining the Miles Davis quintet in late 1955 through to his brilliant work with Thelonious Monk at the Five Spot Cafe in the summer of 1957, Coltrane steadily increased his accomplishments on his instrument & gained new admirers for his playing among his fellow musicians & the serious listening public. For this date Coltrane chose his musicians, he contributed several compositions & he also wrote some of the arrangements.

"Bakai" (meaning "cry" in Arabic), by Cal Massey, opens the album. Its handsome minor theme is expounded by pianist Red Garland, Coltrane (who's horn really cries), & baritone saxophonist Sahib Shihab. Tracks 2 & 3 are handled by the quartet featuring Coltrane & Garland. Two ballad standards, "Violet for Your Furs," & "Time Was," are the subjects; the former receives a sensitive ballad treatment while the latter is done in bright medium time. "Straight Street" is a Coltrane composition & arrangement featuring solos by Coltrane, trumpeter Johnnie Splawn & pianist Mal Waldron. An interestingly different Coltrane interpretation of the seldom-done "While My Lady Sleeps" is Coltrane's alone until Splawn joins him for a final eerie note. Coltrane's "Chronic Blues" is the closer & gives all the horns & Waldron solo room.

Recorded over the course of 3 months in 1962, Coltrane was John Coltrane's 3rd album for Impulse, but his 1st for the label devoted entirely to his regular working group. It was also the 1st album on any label to showcase what came to be known as the classic John Coltrane Quartet. That group – with McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass & Elvin Jones on drums – established itself in its 4 years of existence as 1 of the most influential ensembles in jazz, & 1 of the most popular as well. Coltrane documents its genesis.
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By the mild-mannered janitor - Published on Amazon.com:
Not really any need to comment on the music, because one would assume some famailiarity if considering spending $30+ on this audiophile remastered product.

News of the Analogue Productions series of Prestige remasters, on both high grade vinyl & hybrid SACD, has been warmly welcomed on internet fora. Kevin Gray remasters in particularly are generally a joy to behold. From the opening bars of Bakai, it is clear that this classic May '57 Trane session has never sounded better. All the Gray trademarks are present & correct: wonderful dynamics, gorgeous tonality. All is quite splendid... until the hideous dropsout appear. Straight Street & While My Lady Sleeps are both spoilt by some awful tape glitches. I don't have the knowledge to understand if these are faults with the analogue source or problems created during the digital mastering, but either way they are really easy to hear. I don't understand why the SACD would be issued with this problem, & without at least a technical note like many Japanese CDs of older material have. Rather poor considering the cost of this item, & it makes me very wary of buying any others in this reissue campaign.



Tracks:

1 Bakai - 8:45
Baritone Saxophone – Sahib Shihab
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Al Heath
Piano – Red Garland
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Johnnie Splawn
Written-By – Calvin Massey


2 Violets For Your Furs - 6:10
Written-By – Dennis, Adair


3 Time Was - 7:25
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Al Heath
Piano – Red Garland
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Written-By – Luna de la Fuente, Prado, Russell


4 Straight Street - 6:15
Baritone Saxophone – Sahib Shihab
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Al Heath
Piano – Mal Waldron
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Johnnie Splawn
Written-By – John Coltrane


5 While My Lady Sleeps - 4:36
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Al Heath
Piano – Mal Waldron
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Johnnie Splawn
Written-By – Kaper, Kahn


6 Chronic Blues - 8:00
Baritone Saxophone – Sahib Shihab
Bass – Paul Chambers
Drums – Al Heath
Piano – Mal Waldron
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trumpet – Johnnie Splawn
Written-By – Coltrane

Musicians:

John Coltrane, tenor saxophone
John Splawn, trumpet
Sahib Shihab, baritone saxophone
Mal Waldron, pianist
Red Garland, pianist
Paul Chambers, bass
Al Heath, drums

Mastered At – Cohearent Audio
Copyright © – Analogue Productions
Licensed From – Concord Music Group
Phonographic Copyright (p) – Concord Music Group
Copyright © – Concord Music Group

Credits:
Design [Cover], Photography By – Esmond Edwards
Liner Notes – Ira Gitler
Mastered By – Kevin Gray
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Supervised By – Bob Weinstock
Notes
Mastered from the original analogue mono masters at Cohearent Audio.

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