CiTR

John Coltrane's "Classic Quartet" with McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass and the incredible Elvin Jones on drums had reached a pinnacle of creativity when this concert was performed as part of an extensive European tour. Changes were afoot but during this period the band had reached a level of consistency and performance that was unequaled by any band of this instrumentation. They were captured here with good quality sound in performance before a worshipful German audience. The tunes include Coltrane's "Lonnie's Lament", "Naima", "Cousin Mary" and the fast abstract blues "Chasin' The Trane". The evening ends with the inevitable extended version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "My Favourite Things" where Mr. Coltrane switches from tenor saxophone to soprano. This was one of Coltrane's "hits" and had to be played for every gig and concert. The piece evolved and became more interesting as time went on and this performance demonstrates the piece's evolution. Here then is the "Classic Quartet" at it's best.