Customer Reviews

Mating Call

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John Coltrane is in fine form in this 1956 session, but the real star is bop composer-pianist Tadd Dameron. Known more as a composer, he is, nevertheless, one of the very finest hard bop pianists. He is subtle, he is funky, he is spare. Imagine a combination of Monk and Basie. It doesn't get any better than the slow blues "Romas." This CD is a gas; check it out.

I stumbled on this CD by accident and I'm glad I did. It was recorded in November of '56 and Coltrane sounds like he felt relaxed and free to really lean into his playing on this session. As I said it was '56 so his playing is in the more standard style of his Atlantic records stuff (although Coltrane never played a note that was "standard!"). A very, very good CD. If you like Cotrane, you'll like this CD.

Tadd Dameron. The master. Maybe the greatest composer in the jazz history with Duke Ellington.
Tadd Dameron,1917-1965,born the same year as Nat King Cole,died the same year as Nat King Cole,not such a magnificent piano player as King Cole but surely one of the most marvelous writers of jazz.This extraordinary 1956 session includes Tadd on piano,John Simmons on bass,Philly Joe Jones on drums and the absolutely magnificent tenor sax of ... JOHN COLTRANE.Of course,the masterpiece here is Tadd's wonderful ballad,"Soultrane",which gives Coltrane the opportunity to blow some incredibly beautiful choruses.All of Tadd Dameron's works could be summed up in this somptuous tune.His outstanding use of harmony,the way he could build some of the most beautiful ballads ever written,many bebop memories.There is a special feeling in Tadd's music,as well as in Duke's,that makes every tune written by these guys immediately recognizable.Tadd Dameron was one of the major influences,if even the most important one,in Dexter Gordon's playing and writing.You can hear Tadd's harmonies and climax in every piece Dexter recorded.He really is one of the most important composer in the jazz history,and surely the one of the most underrated ones.Each record by the Master is a treasure,and he didn't record many.But this one,made in quartet,and with Trane,may be the most important.Would Coltrane have been what he became,if Tadd Dameron wasn't here ? You can hear so much of Tadd's music in Trane's music,if your hear is attentive.Don't miss the opportunity to discover one of the major artists of jazz."Soultrane" is one of the most magnificent ballads ever written,just as "lush life",and I'm sure you'll play it over and over again.