John Coltrane eased closer to free jazz with his focused first album with his classic quartet. Released in 1962, 'Coltrane' was his first studio album for Impulse! (and his second album with that title after his solo debut on the Prestige label) after the 'Live at the Village Vanguard' album, which featured all of the members of the quartet. With the departure of Eric Dolphy, the improvisational music on this set comes off as more melodic. Coltrane plays tenor and soprano saxophone; McCoy Tyner handles piano; Elvin Jones hits the drums; and Jimmy Garrison officially takes over on bass. The sessions took place at Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey with producer Bob Thiele. The playing is complex, sophisticated, solid, and beautifully balanced; hinting at the genius that was to come. Coltrane said at the time: "I want to be able to bring something to people that feels like happiness. I would love to discover a process such that if I wanted it to rain, it would start raining. If one of my friends were sick, I would play a certain tune and he would get better; if he were broke, I would play another tune and immediately he would receive all the money he needed. But what those pieces are, and what way do you have to go to arrive at knowing them, I don't know."
This intense rendition of Harold Arlen's "Out of This World" is among his finest moments.
"Soul Eyes" is beatiful and tender.
"Tunji"
"Miles' Mode"
'Coltrane'
full album:
"Out of This World" (Harold Arlen) — 14:06
"Soul Eyes" (Mal Waldron) — 5:26
"The Inch Worm" (Frank Loesser) — 6:19
"Tunji" (Coltrane) — 6:33
"Miles' Mode" (Coltrane) — 7:31
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