There can be few more intense tenor players in jazz today than John Coltrane, and he transmits that intensity to his audience in a most compelling fashion. One must listen, even when the sounds he produces are not entirely pleasing.
The first LP features a quartet of well-proven rhythm men, and also claims to feature Coltrane on soprano saxophone. As he spends most his time making the tenor sound like an alto, I find it hard to establish any moment when I can be certain that he is in fact blowing soprano.
There are some uncomfortable moments when he launches into experimental gambits with the harmonics of his tenor – a most unattractive sound. I like the theme of his original, “Fifth House”, but find most of the others rather contrived and over-studied.
The six-piece group which appears on the Blue Note album is more exciting, and Coltrane seems to blow much harder and with greater rhythmic feeling. Add to this Curtis Fuller’s impressive trombone and Lee Morgan’s intriguing trumpet over a rhythm section comprising Drew, Chambers and Philly Joe Jones and the music becomes something out of the ordinary. There seems to be far more inspiration in this group, with excellent solos from everyone. Kenny Drew’s piano work in the slow ballad “Old Fashioned” is outstanding, and no one could fail to be impressed by Trane’s handling of the blues.
I have, probably wrongly, come to accept John’s inevitable flashy runs, the apparent desire to impress his listeners that he really knows his instrument. But how much better it would be if he would put that part aside and settle down to the serious business of playing jazz. For he is obviously a creative, imaginative and original musician.
Discography
[Coltrane Jazz] (b) Little Old Lady; (a) Village Blues; (b) My Shining Hour; (b) Fifth House (19 min) – Harmonique; (b) Like Sonny; (b) I’ll Wait And Pray; (b) Some Other Blues (19 min)
(a) John Coltrane (ten/sop) McCoy Tyner (p); Steve Davis (bs); Elvin Jones (d). (b) Coltrane (ten); Wynton Kelly (p); Paul Chambers (bs); Jimmy Cobb (d).
(London SAH-K6162 12in. LP 36s. 8d.)
[Blue Train] Blue Train; Moment’s Notice; (19¾ min) – Locomotion; I’m Old Fashioned; Lazy Bird (21¾ min)
Coltrane (ten); Curtis Fuller (tbn); Lee Morgan (tpt); Kenny Drew (p); Chambers (bs); “Philly” Joe Jones (d).
(Blue Note 1577 12in. LP 50s. 5d.)
