Reviewed: 2018-04-05
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: This is a sampler of a five-disc box set that features remastered chronological sessions from 1958 by the jazz saxophonist on Prestige Records. Coltrane was still a few years away from defining his more unique, often avant-garde approach, but he is in full control on this batch of predominantly standards. His full-throated tenor is powerful and often intense, even for the ballads that comprise the majority of these selections. As for favorites, what’s not to like?
If You Like: Dexter Gordon, Sonny Stitt
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
*1/ Lush Life (13:53) – piano starts> slow jam> gorgeous sax solo> piano solo> trumpet solo> slow jam> slow fade
*2/ Lover Come Back To Me (7:24) – horns start> uptempo jam with trumpet on top> sax solo> sizzling trumpet solo> sax solo> piano solo> drum solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
*3/ Stardust (10:39) – sax starts> slow jam> sax solo> trumpet solo> piano solo> bowed bass solo> slow jam> fade
**4/ Good Bait (12:07) – drums/sax start> midtempo jam> sax solo> piano solo> bass solo> uptempo jam with drum fills slows to midtempo> quick stop
*5/ Nakatini Serenade (11:01) – full band starts> uptempo jam> soaring sax solo> trumpet solo> sizzling piano solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end
*6/ Theme For Ernie (4:55) – sax starts> slow jam> sax solo> piano solo> slow jam> slow fade
**7/ Russian Lullaby (5:33) – piano starts hard> drum roll leads into uptempo jam> sax solo> piano solo> fast tempo jam> sax solo slows to midtempo> crescendo end
*8/ I Want To Talk About You (10:53) – sax solo> midtempo jam> sax solo> piano solo> bass solo> midtempo jam> crescendo & fade