John Coltrane Quartet - The John Coltrane Quartet Plays
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Artist: John Coltrane QuartetEdition: Music CD
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1997-03-11
Music Label: Grp Records
Soundtracks:
- Chim Chim Cheree
- Brazilia
- Nature Boy
- Song of Praise
- Feeling Good [*]
- Nature Boy [First Version][*]
- Nature Boy [Live][*]
Free Music Notes for The John Coltrane Quartet Plays
Free Music Review: First step into the unknown
Hit: 4 Stars
This album is the tamest of Coltrane's post-A Love Supreme recordings. There are a few hints of what's to come, but most people who enjoy Crescent and ALS will probably like this one too. Coltrane's playing is certainly denser than it was on Crescent and the playing more abstract, but a lot of the more difficult and abrasive parts of his playing which would emerge just a few weeks later are less prominent here.
"Chim Chim Cheree" is the last in a series of soprano waltzes that Coltrane recorded with the quartet in the studio. Whereas "My Favorite Things", "Greensleeves" and "Afro Blue" got a melodic, upbeat tinge, this performance is very dark and unsettling. I'd describe it as the weakest link on the album, and maybe Coltrane did too because he never tried this kind of thing again. There's an interesting live unofficial recording of this from a few months earlier at the Half Note.
"Brasilia" was not new to Coltrane - he is also recorded a version in 1961 at the Village Vanguard. This version is, in my opinion, stronger. We get some very intense playing out of Trane and Elvin, particularly at the end. It's probably the strongest performance on the album.
"Nature Boy" is another intense, unsettling performance - this time with Art Davis added as a second bass player. His bowed playing as a counterpoint to Trane's tenor near the end is a highlight.
The album closes with "Song of Praise", which is very similar stylistically to A Love Supreme's "Psalm". If you like one, you'll like the other. A more intense version was recorded at the Half Note and appears on the 2-disc One Up One Down set released by Verve/Impulse, but this version is great.
If you like this album and want to see where Coltrane went next, I'd check out Transition or Living Space. They're more edgy than this album, but it's not a huge step forward. After those, you can tackle Sun Ship and Ascension.
One final note: apparently there are two versions floating around, one with 7 tracks and one with 4 tracks. Though the 3 bonus tracks on the 7-track version are not absolutely essential, they are worthwhile and most Coltrane fans picking up this album will want to hear them.
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