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Coltrane ~ John Coltrane | By Eddie Carter

As someone who has enjoyed John Coltrane’s music for years, I’ve revisited this morning’s album from the library countless times, and each time I listen, it reveals something fresh and exciting. Coltrane (Prestige PRLP 7105) is the first chapter in a body of work that continues to challenge, inspire, and uplift listeners. John Coltrane’s path to his debut album was anything but easy. He grappled with addiction and periods of self-doubt, which eventually led to his dismissal from Miles Davis’s quintet. After returning to Philadelphia to end his addiction, John overcame his dependencies and embarked on a profound spiritual journey, allowing him to discover his singular musical voice and ultimately his first Prestige recording session.

Joining the tenor saxophonist are Johnnie Splawn on trumpet (tracks: A1, B1 to B3), Sahib Shihab on baritone sax (A1, B1, B3), Red Garland (A1 to A3), and Mal Waldron (B1 to B3) on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Albert “Tootie” Heath on drums. My copy of this album is the 2023 Analogue Productions mono audiophile reissue, sharing the original catalog number. “Bakai” by Cal Massey opens the first side, unveiling the ensemble’s relaxing melody. Red initiates the solos with a gentle and lyrical touch, as smooth as a calm sea. John’s following statement is grounded in a steady, unwavering rhythm of harmonic exploration. Sahib then steps in with an exquisite statement that nearly steals the show, leading back to the sextet’s theme restatement and ending.

Violets For Your Furs is a charming ballad from the 1940s by Tom Adair and Matt Dennis, which Red brings to life with a tender introduction to Coltrane’s lyrical sensitivity in the quartet’s theme, and a softer, more romantic side in the opening solo. Garland comes in next for a thoughtful, reflective reading until Coltrane gracefully reenters for the theme’s elegant climax. “Time Was” by Gabriel Luna de la Fuente, Paz Miguel Prado, and Bob Russell moves the beat upward for the quartet to give a lively melody. John leads off the solos with an abundance of passion, then Red continues soaring with joyful exuberance in the second reading. Paul has the last word and takes a short walk ahead of the theme’s return and finish.

Straight Street by John Coltrane gets the second side off to a good start. This song announces the spiritual dimension that would become central to his later albums. The sextet returns to full voice for a swinging melody with Mal taking over the piano duties. Coltrane gets right to work and wails on the opening statement. Splawn steps in next, firing on all cylinders, then Waldron takes the final spotlight preceding the group’s return for a vivacious exit. The pace slows down again for the album’s second 1940s ballad, “While My Lady Sleeps,” by Gus Kahn and Bronislaw Kaper. The ensemble presents a splendid study in soulful improvisation, with John paving the way through the melody into an affectionately intimate reading that ends as beautiful as it began.

Chronic Blues by John Coltrane opens with the sextet easing into the theme at a laid-back, comfortable tempo. Shihab launches the opening solo with rhythmic grace and effortless flow. Coltrane next delivers a smooth and inviting swing, as warm and familiar as a favorite homemade dish. Splawn’s turn brings a light and airy touch, infusing the piece with an appealing charm. Waldron closes things out with a breezy reading that leaves the sextet’s finale deeply satisfying. Bob Weinstock supervised the initial session, and Rudy Van Gelder was behind the recording dials. Kevin Gray mastered this audiophile reissue at Cohearant Audio. The album’s sound quality is spectacular, with a gorgeous soundstage that places the musicians directly in front of your sweet spot.

The record was pressed on 180-gram audiophile vinyl and offers an absolutely silent background until the music unfolds. Upon its release, “Coltrane” was met with excitement from jazz lovers and critics alike, though it didn’t propel John Coltrane to instant fame. That recognition would eventually arrive with “Giant Steps,” “My Favorite Things,” and “A Love Supreme.” Still, his debut firmly established Coltrane as a bandleader, composer, and innovator. It also marked the beginning of an extraordinary journey, where he would push the boundaries of jazz, explore spiritual themes, and redefine musical expression. If you haven’t experienced “Coltrane” yet, I highly recommend searching for it on your next record store visit. It’s an outstanding album by John Coltrane that provides a calming, immersive listening experience, gently enveloping you in its soothing melodies from the very first note!

A Love Supreme (Impulse A-77/AS-77), Giant Steps (Atlantic 1311/SD 1311), My Favorite Things (Atlantic 1361/SD

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