Cosmic Music [Original recording remastered, Import]

John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 1995)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered, Import
• Label: Impul
• ASIN: B000006XQD
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #678,523 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of Coltrane's definite masterpieces, July 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Cosmic Music (Audio CD)

This album features two tracks by the John Coltrane group, i.e. tracks # 1 & 3. This recording is especially interesting because it features the first recordings of the new John Coltrane group after the departure of McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. And from the first note, you hear the difference. This is not meant to degrade the truly great work of McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones, but Coltrane's music on this record sounds as if it has been freed, in some way. I really love the preceding studio recording, "Meditations", but this record sounds much freer in some ways, and that is because McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones had different musical conceptions, which were incompatilble with the direction Coltrane was going to take. And this recording is the perfect example. "Manifestation" features a freely pulsating rhythm which provides the two tenors with a ground from where to start their flight. And what a flight it is! Alice Coltrane's piano solo is really capturing, also proving that she is more suitable for this kind of music than her predecessor. Then, the two tenors pick up again, this time both at the same time. Pharoh Sanders can also be heard on piccolo on this tune, which adds an interesting note. Track #3, "Reverend King", is a real gem: it features John Coltrane on bass clarinet. While he may not have mastered this instrument as perfectly as all kinds of saxophones, it is most fascinating to hear him play it. The song starts with an incantation by Coltrane and Sanders, then the theme is played by Coltrane on bass clarinet, and then he pauses, giving room to excellent solos by the other players, only to return towards the end of the piece, playing one of his most intense performances ever. The piece closes with the repating of the theme and the incantation from the beginning. Those two pieces of music are only 22 minutes long, combined, but they're absolutely worth the price of this CD, especially considering that it has been long out of print. The other two tracks were recorded by Alice Coltrane in 1968, after the death of her husband. It features Pharoah Sanders, and I also like these two tracks, but the main reason for buying this CD is constituted by the tracks by John Coltrane. There are said to be more pieces from these sessions, still unreleased and, unfortunately, buried somewhere in some archive, so that they haven't been found yet. One can only hope that they will see the light of day sometime, so that these stunning sessions can be released in their entirety.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Five stars for the two John Coltrane tracks, May 22, 2006

By 

Peter E. Johansen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cosmic Music (W/ Alice Coltrane) (Audio CD)

I paid thirty bucks for this used after listening to the first song, "Manifestation." I admit I was a little disappointed when I brought this home and realized that two of the tracks - "Lord, Help Me to Be" and "The Sun" - where recorded by Alice Coltrane's group shortly after the death of her husband. Furthermore, I already had these recordings on Alice Coltrane's album A Monastic Trio. This is not Alice Coltrane's best, but works well enough in the context of this album. What really stands out for me are the tracks featuring John Coltrane, "Manifestation" and "Reverend King," which are good enough to make me forget any feelings of disappointment.

"Manifestation" is basically as good as the late-sixties group got, which to me is pretty damn good. This song goes a lot of different directions, with everyone involved taking interesting solos. Pharoah Sanders plays the piccolo with a ton of intensity. The other track with John Coltrane, "Reverend King," was a revelation. Similar in feel to Alabama in its quiet building intensity, this tune is a moving tribute to Dr. King. This track is, I think, unique in that this is the only time Coltrane played the bass clarinet.

It's unbelievable to me that these two John Coltrane recordings are out of print and not available on any domestic release. I believe that Impulse should package these perhaps with other rarities instead of the Alice Coltrane tracks. Oh, and the sound quality here is 20 bit remastered and is flawless.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, yes; however..., August 6, 2001

By 

vonbontee "vonbontee" (Mississauga, ON Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cosmic Music (Audio CD)

This CD consists of four tracks, two from a John-led session from 1966, two from a session led by Alice in 1968, a year after John's death. And since the quality of the four ranges from very good to superb, that lukewarm *** rating isn't meant to reflect badly on the music itself. The problem isn't what's on the CD, but what was left off. First, the opening track "Manifestation." I first heard this almost unbearably intense recording 10 years ago on an old Impulse compilation called "His Greatest Years, Vol. II" This collection featured a number of Trane's recordings edited for time, and I assumed that "Manifestation" was one of the cut ones due to a particularly sloppy edit about 9 minutes into it's 11 minute-plus length. This left me rabid to hear the full length version. So you can imagine my disgust, then disappointment to discover the same shortened version here; apparently the original has never been released! Second complaint: Why no bonus tracks? The fact that the formerly prolific Coltrane (12 studio sessions in '65!) made only ONE visit to the studio in '66 (due to failing health?) was bad enough; the fact that only two of the four tracks recorded that day ("Manifestation" and "Reverend King"; "Leo" and "Peace On Earth" being the other two) are included here is inexplicable & even insulting, considering the short disc length & exorbitant price! Having said this, let me reiterate that the music included here is excellent. Again, "Manifestation" (yet another in an amazing series of "-ion" Coltrane titles!) contains possibly Trane's most intense, frenetic soloing ever, and his tenor duet with Pharoah Sanders was their finest moment together. The stately "Reverend King" is also fine and features Coltrane's only recorded use of the bass clarinet. (Eric Dolphy's, incidentally, given to him by Dolphy's parents after his death.) And "Lord Help Me To Be" and "The Sun" are more or less typical Alice Coltrane efforts; if you appreciate her style, you'll like them. I personally am glad to own this, but I'll be gladder still if someone at Impulse is shaken awake & ordered to re-release this domestically, with "Leo" and "Peace on Earth" included.