Search - John Coltrane :: Wheelin & Dealin

Three-way studio jamming session

09/04/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Recorded days after the wonderful Blue Train album, this session brought together an unusual cast of players. John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette and Frank Wess on tenor saxophone (with Wess doubling on flute), Mal Waldron running the show on piano, Doug Watkins on bass and Art Taylor on drums.Probably the most interesting material on this album are the two takes of Waldron's "Wheelin'", a fast romp which provides a battleground for a three-way tenor tussle. Waldron takes an extended solo in his Monk-like awkward but bluesy style, which either does it for you or doesn't.It's a shame this was released under Coltrane's/Wess' name since it's really Mal Waldron's set and material and probably not in the taste of most Trane lovers, but still worth checking out."