Customer Reviews

Living Space

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

John Coltrane recorded a LOT in 1965, and so some listeners might wonder whether Living Space is worth picking up -- especially since it wasn't released during Coltrane's lifetime, and two of the tracks aren't even titled. The answer is definitely yes, particularly for two tracks that rank among the best Classic Quartet recordings from 1965.

"Living Space" is unusual in a few respects; it's the last time Trane played soprano on a studio recording (at least as far as we know), but doesn't have much in common with his other soprano features, which tended to be catchy waltzes. ("My Favorite Things", "Afro Blue", "Chim Chim Cheree", "The Inch Worm", etc.) Also, Trane overdubbed his playing at the beginning and end of the tune; the two (?) soprano saxophones are slightly out of sync, creating a very eerie and trippy sound. It's interesting to hear Trane apply his increasingly free playing to the soprano, especially since he focused on the tenor almost exclusively (in the studio) from '64 onward.

The second essential tune is the second of the "Untitleds" (track #4). Even as Trane's music became more free and avant-garde in the first half of 1965, the rhythm section often played "straight-ahead" swing under Trane's challenging and exploratory improvisations. Here they move away from that -- Tyner, Garrison and Jones abandon "time keeping" and essentially improvise collectively throughout the track. But Trane and McCoy's solos are focused enough, and the group so tightly integrated, that the result never rambles and maintains powerful forward momentum. The last section of the track, with McCoy laying down ominous chords to prepare for the saxophone's re-entry, and then Trane unleashing an incredible scream to open his final solo, is phenomenal. This tune looks ahead to some of the music on the quartet's final studio recordings (Sun Ship and First Meditations) as well as to the music Trane would make once Tyner and Jones left the band.

The rest of the music isn't quite at this level. The best of the rest is the 1st "Untitled", #2, which again features some intense playing by Trane but this time over a more traditional backing -- Garrison laying down a walking bassline, Elvin Jones playing in a more swinging fashion. "Dusk Dawn" is kind of disappointing -- it has a long Jimmy Garrison solo in the middle and Coltrane doesn't play except in the opening and closing ensembles. (This tune, along with an alternate take, is also available on Kulu Se Mama.) "The Last Blues" (at five minutes, much shorter than the other 4 tracks) is almost a throwaway -- not bad by any means, but not adding much to the listening experience.

If you're exploring the Classic Quartet's final recordings, I'd say to get Sun Ship, First Meditations, the live version of A Love Supreme, Transition, and The John Coltrane Quartet Plays before this album. But in a period of time where Coltrane was pushing the boundaries of jazz every other week with memorable and exciting results (Ascension was recorded shortly after these sessions), Living Space is definitely worth picking up.

The misc. tracks from a very busy 1965 show once again that even Trane's left over material was stronger that most palyers top work. Living Space is worth the price of admission. With Trane's overdubbed sax (this, along with a short passage at the end of ALS was the extent of overdubbing for Coltrane) twisting around the theme, this track is mesmerizing. The Last Blues is a nice little bit of blues playing, Trane's last recorded blues palying as the title suggests. Not a first purchase, but should be part of a serious Coltrane collection.

one of my favorite coltrane recordings-- its gorgeous amazing and beautiful-- coltrane like pollack and those guys in painting reinvented the art -its conscious stream of thought in music-- here they have achieved something that is truly transcendant-- these are gems -- evidence of great striving and accomplishment-this is holy music----it is required listening for modern man !!

five posthumously released tracks from 1965. even though i am a huge coltrane fan, i was in no hurry to pick this up, until i saw the positive reviews here on amazon (thanks, folks: i may have missed out on the thing otherwise). this is no scrapings from the barrel sort of album. these are firey, fantastic coltrane performances. a raw gritty outpouring of emotion is on display throughout the whole set, as mr coltrane, mccoy tyner, jimmy garrison, and elvin jones discourse in their amazing musical language. don't miss this if you are a coltrane fan. in fact, don't miss this if you are a music fan, period.

Throughout Coltrane's prolific recording career he performed with many great musicians. One glance at his discography can affirm this fact and this disc features, arguably, his best surrounding musicians; they have become known as simply The Classic Quartet. The featured aartists are Jimmy Garrison on bass, McCoy Tyner on piano, Elvin Jones on drums and JC on saxophone(s). If you are a collector of Coltrane music this is a must have disc since it features his classic quartet in fine form. This is a late seminal recording from around the time of Tranes album "Ascension." The title track, "Living Space" is a profound piece and an inspirational piece of artistry that is emotionally stirring . Trane is featured playing in his innovative modal mode that was influenced from the timelessness of Eastern Indian music. Since this was a posthumous release there are several tracks that were found that are untitled having only vault numbers. Do not let this put you off since they are some of finest songs on the disc but not having a name to associate with the melody is a bit challenging for the listener. Trane is at his improvisational best, reaching both vertically and horizontally on his sound, overlapping and interweaving with staggering results. The importance of the classic quartet to the totality of the sound cannot be overly emphasized; it was a combustible union that created magic that has lasted for generations. Mccoy Tyner played with a bouyancy that allowed for the shifting of sound in directions that were held together by the driving drums and pounding of the skins by Elvin Jones. This coupled with the thumping, harmonic bass of Jimmy Garrison created the one of tightest groups ever assemled in the annals of jazz history.This disc shows the fluidity of the players, each part contributing to the whole for a sound that has yet to be duplicated.Trane is bluesy, melodic, at times he plays in a far reaching, writhing style, but eventually the tenderness returns for the warm lush sound that only he has been able to produce. His ceaseless explorations on the saxophone, exemplified by his quest for a muscial spirtitual search comes through on this fine collection of recordings. Pieces of "A Love Supreme " and fragments of "My Favorite Things" can be heard echoing through the solos of Trane as he explores his inner sanctity revealing his consciousness. This is definitely a disc for the Coltrane or jazz connoisseur that features some of the last recrdings of the Classic Quartet. An excellent recording by some of the best at their collective apogee.

this is a batch of leftover tracks from various recording dates before Coltrane passed away. there are lots of really interesting stuff here for fans to dig into. of particular interest is the overdubbing of his sax on the title track. wow. amazing sound. so beautiful and haunting. overall, this is a great addition to any Coltrane collection. Living Space is probably not one for the casual fans and certainly not a good place to start learning aboiut Coltrane. but a great and important audio document showcasing his never-ending exploratory directions.

Coltranes recordings with his classic quartet of '61-5 varied between very good and stunning. Coltrane fans may want to get the Impulse! box set instead though (which includes this CD and the other works of the quartet)

Im not a huge jazz expert, but when it comes to Coltrane, I have pretty much everything he ever made. The title track is my favorite Coltrane piece that he ever recorded in the studio.

Its definitely not for poeple who exclusively like the early and more traditional Coltrane era, but if you like his late period explorations that don't push into the extreme "sheets of sound" territory, this is a masterpiece.

It is both dreamy, melodic, and exploratory at once. Basically a combination of all coltrane's periods in one. I am still looking for a jazz piece that can surpass the title track, or at least something similar to it.

Living Space is a series of takes from the same 1965-sessions that produced the fine "Transition"-cd. The band was at the height of its powers, and it seemed there were no limits to what it could to. The title track features overdubbed saxophone - it is quite beautiful and not like anything else Coltrane ever did. All the tracks are powerful and very rewarding - and it is only judged by the groups own towering standards that you could call some of the playing slightly routine.

Potential buyers should be aware that the editorial review printed above is for the album "Giant Steps," not for this album "Living Space."