Live at Halfnote [Import]

John Coltrane | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 13, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Japan
• ASIN: B000AA7DPK
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,378,972 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. I Want to Talk About You

2. Brazilia

3. Song of Praise

4. One Up, One Down

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Only for the Traned., June 20, 2001

By 

Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Live at the Half Note (Audio CD)

Because of the absence of information about dates and personnel as well the uneven quality of the recorded sound, not to mention Coltrane's performance itself, this album cannot be recommended for the uninitiated. Spend a couple of extra bucks and purchase "Live at Birdland" or "A Love Supreme."

But if you're a student of Coltrane, this particular recording of "I Want to Talk about You"--not at all like the version on "Live at Birdland"--offers a fascinating glimpse at Coltrane's creative process. It begins with cracked notes and unsustained tones, as Coltrane quickly yields to an extended solo by the pianist (McCoy? clearly so on the other 3 tracks but not necessarily on this). Then Coltrane reenters the fray, rejuvenated and ready for action. When he restates the melody and gets to the final dominant chord, scene of his virtuosic cadenza on the "Live at Birdland" recording, he submits himself to a greater challenge than on that date. Instead of exploring all of the chord substitutions, extensions, harmonics on the dominant chord alone, he touches base with the entire song--refrain, bridge, closing refrain--in the midst of another unaccompanied cadenza extraordinaire. It's not the unfaltering pyrotechnical display of the "Birdland" date, but in it's own way it's no less impressive and belongs in the collection of any true believer.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Misleading track listing, July 27, 2001

By 

G B (Connecticut) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live at the Half Note (Audio CD)

As the other reviewers have noted, this CD (a budget reissue of previously bootlegged material) has an incorrect track listing. "Brazilia" is actually a duplicate, identical performance minus 30 seconds, of "Song of Praise". "One up, One Down" is cut off at the end. The sound quality is also somewhat lacking, at least compared to most of the officially released live Coltrane from the '60s. Is this set still worth buying? The answer is definitely yes, if you're a serious Coltrane fan; at only (low price), 37 minutes (plus 19 duplicated) of quality live Coltrane is a bargain. "I Want to Talk About You" is excellent even if it has a few flubs at the beginning and doesn't quite match the officially released Live at Birdland version. The 20 minute long "Song of Praise" showcases Coltrane's fierce, expressionistic '65 playing and justifies the purchase of this set. It may be worth searching for a better release of this material, but if you can't wait or are on a tight budget (low price!!!) then you should buy this.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very good music, but the production values are minimal, September 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Live at the Half Note (Audio CD)

This is a fascinating listen for serious John Coltrane lovers, and you can't beat the price. However, the second song (Brazilia) is, in fact, an edited version of the third track. And the first notes of "I Want to Talk About You" are cracked, warbly, and harsh, making me nearly regret my purchase at first. But John and the band do a wonderful version of the song, and the sound quality isn't awful- better than, say, the Monk/Coltrane Live album, but not a sonic masterpiece like Live at Birdland. Not an essential album, but a nice discovery for the Trane fan.