John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman [Original recording remastered]

Elvin Jones, Jimmy Garrison, John Coltrane, Johnny Hartman, McCoy Tyner, John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 10, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 1963
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Impulse Records
• ASIN: B0018RWD6S
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (150 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,522 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #22 in Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Cabaret
  • #35 in Music > Jazz > Bebop > Hard Bop
  • #83 in Music > Jazz > Bebop > General AAS

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This is one of the three all-ballad albums that John Coltrane recorded in late 1962 and early 1963. Johnny Hartman was apparently Coltrane's suggestion, and his deep, dark voice meshes perfectly here with Coltrane's tenor. The material is well-chosen, including definitive readings of "My One and Only Love" and "Lush Life." McCoy Tyner fills out the chords, augmenting the harmonies and keeping the tone of these ballads respectful but not overly sentimental. All the players get to the deep structure of the songs and are not afraid to play in the most essential and elegant manner. This is beautiful jazz. --Michael Monhart --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Product Description

It was a match made in heaven: Hartman's beautiful baritone voice and Coltrane's exploratory yet empathetic tenor sax. This 1963 Impulse LP is a career highlight for both these jazz giants! --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

143 of 147 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "They Say It's Wonderful", November 17, 2001

By 

douglas barton "emotions in motion" (Arlington, Va.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Audio CD)

I've been sitting here reading fellow Amazon reviewers take on "John Coltrane and Johhny Hartman" and I've noticed a trend that I find discomforting....if not exactly true as well. But I'll soon get to that. First, I think a little background is needed to fully understand where this cd is at, musically speaking of course.

When approached to do an "album" with a singer Cotrane's first, and I suspect only response, was Johnny Hartman. Hartman was close to being a complete unknown in a field where he so obviously excelled and Coltrane, while recording two albums of ballads previous to this record, "Ballads" and "Duke Ellington and John Coltrane" was still attempting to facillitate a style that reached the outer boundaries of the restrictive nature of popular song. That being the case they entered the studio and preceded to record a classic...in every sense of the word.

Now,unlike other reviewer's comments about Coltrane being subjected to the role of "sideman" to Johnny Hartman's vocals this, I feel, simply misses the point of what this cd is about. Coltrane's tenor, I feel, is actually the "second voice" on this fine disc. The interaction between voice and musical instrument will always be debated as how to best draw a "focal point" where each can draw inspiration from the other and I feel that this is as close as I've ever heard to having those two seperate entities actually realizing that one precise point where vocals and intrumentation blend together in perfect unison . A perfect blending of two "instruments". Obviously a listener's attention will always turn toward the vocal aspect of any piece of music due to it's simply being recorded at the front end of any song. And being Johnny Hartman how could you not pay close attention! But, if you truly listen to when Coltrane enters each song, a prime example being " Lush Life", than you may have an idea as to what I am saying. Coltrane's saxophone isn't so much accompanying Hartman as much as "singing" with him. I suspect this is the closest thing we may have to an actual "duet" regarding voice and musical accompiantment. While it's true that Coltrane did go back into the studio at a later date to overdub some phrases for "My One And Only Love', "Lush Life" and "You Are Too Beautiful" basicallly what you have here is recorded "live". Which only enhances the sheer "magic" of this disc!

And speaking of accompiantment isn't it time to give credit to McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones. Without these fine musicians I suspec this cd would surely lose some of it's lustre! A truly first rate quartet that is second only to Mile's work on "Kinda Blue".

So, in the end, purchase your own copy of "Coltrane/Hartman" and hear what all the fuss is about. Whether you agree with my observations or not this cd is simply too good to pass up. Simple, beautiful and terribly romantic! Actually, forget all this superficial analyzing and enjoy the disc for what it is....Simply Wonderful!

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A unmitigated masterpiece, November 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Audio CD)

Simply put this has to be one of my favorite Cd's. Mere words can't express how well the combination of the John Coltrane Quartet sound and Johnny Hartman sounds. From 'They say it's wonderful' to 'Autumn serenade' all of the tracks are excellent to say the least. Johnny Hartman has one of the smoothest barritone singing voices I've ever heard. Listining to his voice on 'Lush life'(especially) gives me the chills. (I'd argue that their cover of that song is the best ever). This paired up with the already legendary sound of the John coltrane quartet makes this album not a must have but an essential for any coltrane fan. If you are even thinkg about buying this CD you've given it too much thought, BUY IT NOW! You wont regret it.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lush & Romantic Music, December 7, 2000

By 

Thomas Magnum (NJ, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (Audio CD)

John Coltrane is one of the most inventive and innovative jazz musicians of all time, but he very well may be at his best with his work on these six simple ballads. By employing Johnny Hartman as the vocalist, Mr. Coltrane's tenor sax perfectly meshes with Mr. Hartman's deep, rich baritone voice. Mr. Hartman's voice is so sweet and mellow it practically drips out of your speakers. The songs are all arranged in a simple and understated manor and that adds to their elegance. Mr. Coltrane plays in smooth yet forceful tones that turn simple riffs into majestic sounds. McCoy Tyner provides the backbone of the album with his piano playing. He fills the holes with pretty tinkling of the ivories. The band is at their peak on the opening track "They Say It's Wonderful" that opens with a 2 minute solo by Mr. Coltrane and then drops Mr. Hartman's silky dulcitones on you. It doesn't get any more romantic than right here.