John Coltrane The Prestige Recordings

Despite its title (which was due to the original LP containing the last of Prestige's John Coltrane material to be released for the first time), this album does not have Coltrane's final recordings either of his career or for Prestige. These "leftovers" are generally rewarding with an alternate take of "Trane's Slo Blues" (called "Slotrane") being joined by three slightly later numbers ("Lover," "By the Numbers" and "Come Rain or Come Shine") taken from quintet sessions with trumpeter Donald Byrd, pianist Red Garland, bassist Paul Chambers and either Louis Hayes or Art Taylor on drums. Enjoyable if not essential hard bop from John Coltrane's productive Prestige period.

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.

AVID Jazz continues with its Four Classic Albums series with a finely re-mastered 2CD release from John Coltrane with The Red Garland Trio & Quintet.

Miles Davis with John Coltrane - The Complete Columbia Recordings (2000) {Vinyl, Mosaic MQ9-191 rec 1955-1961} (Out-Of-Print)
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© 1955-61, 2000 Columbia / Mosaic Records | MQ9-191
Jazz / Hard Bop / Cool / Bop / Jazz Blues / Modal Music

Some nine years after Miles Davis’ untimely death, Columbia Records is still repackaging his recorded legacy. The most recent efforts in this area have been made available both on compact disc and in 180-gram vinyl versions by way of Mosaic Records. It is the latter edition that this review is based on, though it should be noted that basically the only difference between the two sets, besides the presentation medium, is that Mosaic’s package is a 12 x 12 box with an album-sized booklet accompanying the records.

John Coltrane - The Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings {7CD Box Set Reissue 2013}
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© 2013 Atlantic / Rhino / Warner | 8122796427
Jazz / Hard Bop / Post Bop / Modal Music / Avant-Garde Jazz / Saxophone

The Heavyweight Champion is a box set that lives up to its title. Collecting all of John Coltrane's Atlantic recordings, including a fair number of unreleased takes as well as an entire disc of alternate tracks and studio chatter, the seven-disc box set documents a pivotal moment in Coltrane's career, as he was moving from hard bop and sweet standards to a more daring, experimental style of playing influenced by the avant-garde. Much of the music is hard bop (Giant Steps) or lushly melodic (My Favorite Things), but the latter discs show the saxophonist coming to terms with the more experimental movements in jazz. 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.