CiTR

This album has been considered the "holy grail" of discoveries and just issued a few months ago. A n undiscovered recording session by John Coltrane's "classic quartet" at their peak. This session from March 6,1963 was never issued before. The reasons are long and complex but basically the session was done and forgotten during a very busy time in Coltrane's career. Gigs, concerts and other recording projects were happening at this time and as with all the recording sessions done for Coltrane's label, Impulse Records, he was given a tape to take home and assess and listen to in his own time. It was found in the possession of Naima's estate. Naima was Coltrane's first wife and she died in 1996. The tape was processed and programmed by Coltrane's son Ravi and issued to the public a few months ago. What a discovery! The Classic Quartet has John Coltrane on tenor and soprano saxophones and McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass and the incredible Elvin Jones on drums. They are at their intuitive best here and they perform as one. There are seven tunes here, two are untitled Coltrane originals. Eden Ahbez' great composition "Nature Boy" is given a fine treatment and less challenging than his later 1965 version. "Vilia" by Franz Lehar is an unissued version with Coltrane on tenor saxophone. Then there is a great 12 minute blues proving Coltrane once again as a master blues player. Finally another Coltrane original called One Up, One Down closes the set. Sonny Rollins is quoted as saying that "this is like finding a new room in the great pyramid". That describes the music to a tee. Tonight's Jazz Feature "Both Directions at Once".