Customer Reviews

John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Hybr)

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A wholesale improvement in sound quality when played back in SACD mode over the impulse release. Other than some tape hiss, terrific presence and very much a "you are there" quality to the sound. Hartman was a fabulous singer and Coltrane is at his best doing ballads. If you like romantic jazz with up front vocals and sax, this is a must have disc. I own about 2000 CDs. This is in my top 10 favorites.

As a saxophonist, I have been a Coltrane lover for twenty years, and have avoided any vocal contamination of his and other jazz greats' works. All of that changed when I listened to this album! The polished intensity of Coltrane's tenor sax blended with the baritone crooning of Johnny Hartman make this one of the most romantic albums in jazz (and that is saying something).

Johnny Hartman, while a star in his own right, has never has inspired me as much. And while, "A Love Supreme," released a year and a half later in 1965, is arguably Coltrane's greatest work, "John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman," is more intimate and at the same time, accessible for the listener. The struggle to describe the radiance of divinity and reverence is replaced by the more tangible themes of a human's trials and triumphs in love. If you only get one album to share with your sweetheart, this is the one to get!

Recognized for years as a Jazz Classic, an essential recording . . . one of those desert island recordings; there is very little that can be added that has not already been written about this recording. The qualities of these great artists came together on this very special recording. It is simply that good. The technology through the years has improved and fortunately the remastering of this classic has been done well enough to give honor to the original vinyl rendering.

Hartman sounds as if he were in your room while Coltrane simplifies his music to support the vocal (his only recording to do so). It takes genius and great self esteem to keep it within the boundaries of the entire ensemble. Coltrane did this on this recording to his credit / genius.

This recording is a "must have" for any serious music fan. A wonderful start (or finish) to any evening.

so the story goes: hartman & trane run into each other. what's happening? trane says he's about to cut a new side. he wants to do a duet album with another tenor sax. hartman has been down a bit on his luck...he says "I'll do it. I'll be the tenor sax". no, no. yes, yes. trane agrees. when they arrive at rudy van gellers' studio, rudy tells us that they talk over the play list...no rehearsal... just talk over the play list. they do the whole thing in just one take each. history was made that day. jazz history. beautiful history. if you dont have this CD, get it!

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman

THIS IS A GREAT REPRODUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL LP. I'VE BEEN BOTH A JOHN COLTRANE AND JOHNNY HARTMAN FAN FOR A LONG TIME. HOWEVER, I NEVER GOT AROUND TO PURCHASING THE ORIGINAL LP ALBUM. I'M ALMOST GLAD I WAITED. THE CD IS GREAT AND SOUNDS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL ON MY NEW SYSTEM. GOOD CHOICE.