Search - John Coltrane :: Blue Trane: John Coltrane Plays the Blues

Please Note

John Chapin | Jackson Heights, NY USA | 02/25/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This ain't the same record as "Blue Train". The more widely acclaimed record Blue Train might be what you're looking for, not this one. Check them both out."

Great Coltrane, but beware, it's a compilation album

llooc | CT, USA | 12/13/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a reviewer noted below, this is not "Blue Train", which is a completely separate Coltrane album.



This is also not "Coltrane Plays the Blues". That album was recorded in October 1960.



This album, "Blue Trane: John Coltrane Plays the Blues", is a COMPILATION album. The tracks are taken from the following albums: "The Last Trane", "Traneing In", "The Red Garland Quintet with John Coltrane/Dig it!", "Gene Ammons' All-Stars/The Big Sound", "Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane" and "Black Pearls". All tracks were recorded between 8/57-5/58.



All that aside, it's classic pre-avant-garde Coltrane. I don't think you can go wrong with anything Coltrane did before that phase. (Some others would claim that his later phase contains better and more interesting work, but that's a matter of taste with which I wholeheartedly disagree.)



Of course the playing gets five stars. I'd give it ten if I could. But I have to take one star off for the dishonest attempt by Prestige Records to take the names of two of Coltrane's classic albums and try to cash in on them on the title of this album. I'd take off two, but it's not Coltrane's fault that the record label is scummy. There's no "Prestige" in misleading the public.



If you're new to Coltrane, you're better off getting "Blue Train", "Coltane Jazz" or "Giant Steps". If you're not new to Coltrane, then you'd be better off picking up the albums where this album's tracks originally appeared.



Worth picking up if you see it somewhere for seven bucks or so and you have no other Coltrane in your collection."

Buy it...

M. Kazanecki | 10/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"No question as to the quality of musicianship on this CD. Nothing lacking. In my opinion, every jazz musician should sound so dedicated."