The trend continues with my efforts to procure more jazz music, courtesy of the Ken Burns Jazz series on PBS. When buying the Dave Brubeck cd back in April, the college kid at Exclusive Co. asked if I had any John Coltrane yet and recommended a few different titles (you wouldn't get this type of service at Best Buy!). This month, I decided to check out the compilation from the Ken Burns series, which is usually the safest way to go. Because of my knowledge of Coltrane's music from Miles Davis' "Kind of Blue", I pretty much knew what kind of sound to expect. The quality of John Coltrane's work is loose, inspired, and amazing to say the least.
The track that blew me away initially was Rodgers and Hammersteins's "My Favorite Things". Clocking in at over 13 minutes, this cover version recorded in 1960 is brilliant. Coltrane is known for his tenor sax playing, and his technique flows effortlessly on this song. Coltrane actually plays soprano saxophone here to get a "lighter" effect. "'Round Midnight" features heartfelt tenor sax playing that blends in well with the piano, bass, and drums in the background. Where Miles Davis' music takes on a little darker and moody flavor, Coltranes sound is convincingly brighter and fun. I could see how the average fan would find his music a little more accessible than that of Davis. This can be best represented on "Mr. PC". Coltrane plays at high and low notes at a blistering pace. He's always in control on the tune, and the sound brings instant joy to the listener. Despite the happy mood, the sound of the song is thick and the upright bass gives it a nice blues feel.
With 10 tracks and over 70 minutes of music that spans from 1956 to 1967 (the year of Coltrane's death), this set is a nice sampling of Coltrane's career. Like Miles Davis, jazz purists insist on having John Coltrane in their music collections. For music lovers in general, Coltrane's beautiful style and sound is easy to appreciate. For myself, this collection is a good place to start!
