When I made the conscious decision to really dive into the jazz thing this was one of my first buys. I was listening to Bitches Brew, Mahavishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Return To Forever, and the like. You get the idea of the sound and style.
I caught wind of this album and I had heard of John Coltrane. The fact that he was a sax player helped ( Also I was just getting into the new CD format and someone told me this particular title sounded great).
This was a more traditional (no electricity) , hard blowing , swing, Bop, improv music. Coltrane and his session mates waste no time getting into this one. The title song opens the album and away we go. I just let the music take me to wherever the band went. All the players on the album take solo’s and are all top notch. Tommy Flannagan, Cedar Walton, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers bass, Jimmy Cobb, Lex Humphries, Art Taylor drums. They know how to play.
I was a sax guy and listening to John Coltrane’s playing was a different experience. He has a great sound but it was his energy and power that got me. It’s relentless. Powerful stuff. This was my intro into his music and I don’t think I could have picked a better starting point. I like strapping in for a listen and this definitely was an intense listen.
This was a ‘Giant Step’ into Coltrane’s music but also into this style. I wanted more of this kind of music. I was lucky to have this album introduced to me. I really got off on it and still do. It always sounds fresh to me. Naima’ is the only slow number (JC has a great album he did with Johnny Hartman if you like a softer cooler touch) on the album and in no way does it pale to the others, it’s just a change of pace. I’ve had hours of listening pleasure with this record (and countless other JC albums) and really get lost in the music.
This album is a favorite of mine for so many reasons. It swings, it’s hard and it introduced me to John Coltrane and his music. CB is probably the wrong guy to do justice on writing about this music but all I know is I dig it big time and it moves me. I would say this is a good place to start if you are thinking of taking a plunge into these waters. But for “Gods sake” , be careful” you might not come back.
This is a must if you like jazz. The solos are mind blowing. I am very impressed by this album.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It has been a staple in my listening since I stumbled onto it. The “solos are mind blowing”. Yes they are.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coltrane made two giant steps in 1959: playing on Miles Davis’ “Kind Of Blue” and recording his first classic.He played flying clusters of notes that declared new possibilities for jazz improvisation and predicted the ferocious, harmonically open lyricism of his mid-sixties albums.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was going to say all that but I knew you would come through for me Fox. It is a mind bending dose of heavy music played by musicians that are up to the task. Fantastic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Leading with a classic, there, CB. Do you reckon your enjoyment of the jazz-rock stuff helped in embracing Coltrane?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely it did. Coltrane was a jump into a whole new kind of music for me. Something heavier, denser. More miles and experience on it. Maybe I’m getting carried away but it just felt (and still does) so confident. Like this is what we play for ourselves. All the players on the record are ace. This was like secret shit that I discovered.
Also Bruce, on the reverse when I listen to the jazz/rock and that other stuff we like,Yes, Crimson etc I hear more and more the connection. The musicianship and musical ideas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
An album I keep meaning to get around to posting about but never do. For the jazz enthusiast, a great listen. For the jazz improviser, a daunting challenge. Without going into all the technical detail – which frankly I half-understand – “Giant Steps” refers to the movement of the bassline per Coltrane. For the improviser, the chords and key changes fly by so fast that to this day it’s a bitch to play against and is the Waterloo that jazzers must face. Me I’ll stick with the blues.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We probably come at it from a couple different places but we still get to the great music on the record. I always find this album (and music like it) a little exhausting in a good way. I really get caught up in it.
Doc would you say there’s a kind of blues feel in the music? There at the core?
LikeLike
Always with jazz, yeah. There’s a lot of fierce playing on this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Fierce” is a great description. They must know when they are in the studio that things are clicking. Your hearing it in the moment.
LikeLike
I think if you get guys at that high a level in the room it can’t help but click.
LikeLiked by 1 person
“That high a level” is right. To be able to play and work off each other must be some kind of great feeling.
LikeLike
And the other side of it is if they can’t play at that level, the other guys will let them know it. “Whiplash” presented an over-the-top version of that but the essence of it had some truth,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yeah I’ve read some accounts about some down right nastiness. Charles Mingus comes to mind as far as what he expected.
Thing is Doc the proof is in the listening on this album. Wynton Kelly is absolutely on point. Also we talked about this before, these guys gigged constantly. Confidence might have a little bit to do with it.
(See you over at your “guitarist” take. First glance I would put lots of those guys on a list if I ever made one.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I forget its title, but a previously unreleased Coltrane session came out about 8 months ago. Have you heard it? I’ve heard a couple of tracks and liked them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes I have Neil thanks. A couple of our friends on this thing we do alerted me to that. It’s just more of John doing the thing that he does. Which is not to be taken lightly if you love his music. It will be something that I will bracket the time for and get drained, in a good way.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I still need to check this one out, CB. The only Coltrane album I’m truly daft about is A Love Supreme. I find the hard Bop stuff of Blue Train a bit too difficult to fall into, so have felt a bit reluctant to grab anything else (though I did listen to, and enjoy, the majority of that fairly recently released lost sessions thing).
LikeLiked by 1 person
J you might find this a little “hard bop” like. This music just captured me, what can I say. I do get your reluctance. Maybe another time another day it will hit you differently. Maybe not.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I still try Blue Train every few years or so for that very reason. Maybe one day it’ll hit me. I’ll add this to the list to try too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m trying it again right now as a matter of fact. I think I’m going to like it all over again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m lining up Coltrane for this evening. If I can’t find the groove, I’ll hit up A Love Supreme. That’s gotta be a good deal.
LikeLiked by 1 person
‘Love Supreme’ just ended on my music machine. I’ll leave you with this. Johnny Hartman is my Sinatra. Check out Coltrane/Hartman doing ‘Lush Life (or anything else), you will never be the same.
I’m going to hit the hay. I’ll check in with you tomorrow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coltrane and Hartman duly noted for some listening when I get home. I’ll report back…
LikeLike
Get ready for hard blowing, muscular JC toning it down with an amazing singer in Johhny Hartman
LikeLiked by 1 person
Incredible tune. Gonna check out the full album if it’s of that standard.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It is. The collaboration was out of left field when I heard it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Got it on just now. Really liking it… I’d never heard of the Hartman guy before, but he’s got the chops.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t know the history of those two getting together but it is absolute magic to me. Never fails to make me think why a guy with a voice like Hartman never caught on bigger.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sometimes that ‘moment’ just never hits for some folk, eh? Maybe too entrenched in jazz to make the step towards being a popstar (for want of a better word)?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah,so many things go into it. I am going to find out more about Johnny’s story.
I’m listening to Stephen Simmons Live in Germany. Liking it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you got to Simmons. He’s released a lot over the years, so there’s loads to discover and the live stuff is definitely a good place to jump in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He brought Steve Earle to mind. I’ll listen to him some more.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aye, I can see that. Gotta love music that wears its heart on its sleeve. I think they’re both like that.
LikeLiked by 1 person
After his set was over my music machine took me to similar artists and i swear a song came on that was Earle. No it was Simmons.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Similar voices and stories. The clearly hang around the same musical towns and know the same characters.
You’ve put me right in the mood to listen to Guitar Town now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes they do. Guitar Town is a good one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a helluva debut.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great stuff CB. I have this but I always find it a bit daunting and opt for Blue Trane instead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I opt for that record often. What a truck load of music this John guy has.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And when you mix Alice into the pot, it just multiplies again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yeah i have that Alice recording (i think you featured a while back) on my spin list
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful record, and I especially love the beautiful “Naima,” which was written about his daughter.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes that cut fits the record. Total change of pace but it works. Didn’t know about the daughter thing. Nice touch.
LikeLike
Jazz is too terrifying to jump into while I’m already trying to collect rock, metal, and blues. I’m just going to live vicariously through you instead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A few of our friends on here have some good thoughts on certain jazz leanings. This Coltrane is a heavy dose of some hard jazz.
Again knowing a bit of your leanings. Maybe a little Mahavishnu Orchestra. Try ‘Birds Of Fire’ It’s metal to me.
Hey Mars, thanks for going on a Babyhead binge. Nice to hear from you. I peek in on you and your gals sites periodically to see what’s up. You know I’m a “Pickup” regular. Plus ever since you did the ‘Cape Fear’ take my gal and I have it inching to the top of our viewing pile. night. Good summer evening film. Thanks and talk later. CB
LikeLiked by 1 person
No prob man! Your blog is helping me get through some monster 12hr shifts! I’ll put Mahavishnu on the recommendation pile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s why CB was made. To help others.
LikeLike
Definitely one of the best jazz CDs I have.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Like to see some of your others. Thanks for stopping by. Tried to go to your site. It was a no go.
LikeLike
As amazing as “Ascension” an enigma and a spiritual work that truly transcends. Coltrane was a true artist
LikeLiked by 1 person
I get listening to JC and I usually stay with him for a few days
LikeLiked by 1 person