John Coltrane's plaintive tenor saxophone tone and total engagement with his material could make any slow ballad sound like a prayer, so this set of nominally devotional numbers (recorded between 1961 and '67) doesn't shed... more » any new light on his art. But it holds your attention, even if Coltrane's holy numbers tend to be slow or stately as hymns (if sometimes catchier: "Dear Lord" could pass for some unjustly forgotten ballad). The first movement of A Love Supreme was an inevitable choice, for Coltrane and bassist Jimmy Garrison's mantra-like repetitions, and for the saxophonist's speaking-in-tongues falsetto. (Garrison, the only sideman who appears on all tracks, is the CD's secret hero, whether adding punchy beats to the bottom end or flamenco-strumming through an intro.) On Coltrane's albums or gigs, spirituals often functioned as change-ups, a chance to catch one's breath before the next fast or frenetic number. They still sound most striking in relief, but assembled in one place, their power accumulates. --Kevin Whitehead« less
John Coltrane's plaintive tenor saxophone tone and total engagement with his material could make any slow ballad sound like a prayer, so this set of nominally devotional numbers (recorded between 1961 and '67) doesn't shed any new light on his art. But it holds your attention, even if Coltrane's holy numbers tend to be slow or stately as hymns (if sometimes catchier: "Dear Lord" could pass for some unjustly forgotten ballad). The first movement of A Love Supreme was an inevitable choice, for Coltrane and bassist Jimmy Garrison's mantra-like repetitions, and for the saxophonist's speaking-in-tongues falsetto. (Garrison, the only sideman who appears on all tracks, is the CD's secret hero, whether adding punchy beats to the bottom end or flamenco-strumming through an intro.) On Coltrane's albums or gigs, spirituals often functioned as change-ups, a chance to catch one's breath before the next fast or frenetic number. They still sound most striking in relief, but assembled in one place, their power accumulates. --Kevin Whitehead
CD Reviews
I can't believe it....
Stephen | 10/03/2001
(1 out of 5 stars)
"....another re-packaging of previously released material from John Coltrane. Wow! this is great. I really needed to hear these songs that I already have on other Coltrane CDs.
Give me a break, guys!! This is yet another marketing ploy to make money off the Coltrane name. Show Impulse and the Coltrane estate that you are not going to be duped by them and DO NOT purchase this CD.
Why can't we get some fresh stuff that hasn't been released yet. There's got to be some unreleased material, live shows, or something in the vault. Please..."
Cosmic blues
Enrique Torres | San Diegotitlan, Califas | 10/16/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This is a series of songs, strung together from eight different albums, with the loosely, common thread being the theme of spirituality. Does it work? Yes and no. It displays the spiritual side of Coltrane for those unaware of his virtues via his sax but it only scratches the surface. This is a teaser. Listening to the CD in it's entirety "A Love Supreme," of which a cut is dispalyed here, is much more reflective of the spiritual side of Coltrane. In that regard this CD can be deceptive to the new listener of Coltrane. If you think the samples here are an indicator of the CD's from which they are taken you may be disappointed. The featured songs are another attempt at repackaging and marketing (hence minus a star) of John Coltrane. The music itself is lush, evocative and joyful. A softer, gentler brand of trancelike rhythms come forth that are perfect for those not so quite moments in the concrete jungle. I give the producer, Richard Seidel, credit for choosing some of the best Coltrane that fits the spiritual/bluesy theme. The music is a perfect introspective vechicle for the listner to take an otherworldly Trane journey. There is not a weak song here and most fans will have their own personal favorites. My own faves are the opening track "Acknowledgement" with it's mantra like invocation, and the closing track "Spirtual" which features Trane on both tenor and alto sax and the underated Eric Dolphy on bass clarinet both blowing for an incredible version that lasts thirteen and a half minutes. I have most of these songs on the origianl albums or CD's but it is convenient to have a themed selection on one CD. It is a quality selection of music that should be especially helpful for someone new to Coltrane. Unlike some Trane original CD's this can be listened to in it's entirety without anyone complaining or hitting the > button. By this for yet another view of the man known as Trane, his music continues to endure and live beckoning discovery by new audiences and for old fans to relive again."
I don't recommend buying this cd...
Stephen | Virginia Beach, VA USA | 10/11/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"...because I say by all of his impulse albums. Yes, its a shame that these folks keep putting out the same material over and over again. The positives are:1 it keeps trane on the endcaps
2 New listener discover him
3 this one is actually a better mix of sessions/periods (notice the later stuff)The music is obviously great. If you don't have this stuff and aren't ready to buy his entire output, well...your call!"
Next stop after "The Gentle Side of John Coletrane"
celinedion | 10/11/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
".....Maybe you don't get the squealing later stuff (I'm just coming around to it). Maybe you like JC enough to buy his difficult later albums to get the one melodic track.
Now you don't have to. This is well-selected, programmed, and remastered. It's been in my CD changer forever. It made me go hunt down a few of the complete albums these lovely dirges came from.
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1