John Coltrane – Blue Train

John Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes and was at the forefront of free jazz. He led at least fifty recording sessions and appeared on many albums by other musicians, including trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk. Over the course of his career, Coltrane’s music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension. He remains one of the most influential saxophonists in music history. Blue Train is a studio album released in January 1958 on Blue Note Records, the only one on this label by Coltrane as session leader. The album was recorded in the midst of Coltrane’s residency at the Five Spot as a member of the Thelonious Monk quartet. The personnel include Coltrane’s Miles Davis bandmates, Paul Chambers on bass, Philly Joe Jones on drums, Kenny Drew on piano, Lee Morgan on trumpet, and Curtis Fuller on trombone. In Blue Train Coltrane exhibits the move toward what would become his signature style: his solos are more harmonic or “vertical” and lines arpeggiated, and his timing was often apart from or over the beat, rather than playing on or behind it. During a 1960 interview, Coltrane described Blue Train as his favorite album of his own up to that point.

180 gram Audiophile Vinyl
Deluxe Gatefold Edition
Label: Jazz Images
Cat. # 37099