Customer Reviews

Ole Coltrane

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Despite some big names gracing it ("Giant Steps," "My Favorite Things"), Coltrane's Atlantic discography sometimes gets overlooked. "Ole," released in 1961, is one of Coltrane's better, if often overlooked, Atlantic releases.

The CD benefits greatly from the inclusion of "To Her Ladyship," which first appeared as an "Untitled Original Ballad" on the Atlantic vinyl release "The Coltrane Legacy." It's a fine example of Coltrane's lyrical power with a ballad, and he is aided by Eric Dolphy on flute and Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, both in fine form. With these three, the ballad is never sappy or cloying. Instead, it's a powerful emotional statement.

Another high point is the delicate McCoy Tyner composition "Aisha." Coltrane limns the melody with little or no embellishment, letting the tune's lovely melody carry the listener along.

The title tune, however, allows Coltrane to unleash his power, which emerges in a searing soprano solo that I can never listen to without getting completely swept up. Coltrane used the two-bass drone (Reggie Workman and Art Davis), over which all the players soar, including Dolphy (disguised on the original release as "George Lane" because of contractual problems), who again displays his prowess on flute.

For listeners interested in chronicling Coltrane's musical journey, this is a great CD to have. He explores minor, Eastern-based themes and displays his touch with a ballad. The great quartet had not yet formed (Jimmy Garrison is absent here), but it's getting close. And the inclusion of Dolphy presages the Impulse release, "Live at the Village Vanguard," which displays Eric's short tenure with the band.

I know that I'll probably get flack for saying this, but this recording might even be a little better than Coltrane's masterpiece, A Love Supreme...okay, okay...it's not better because it is in a class all by itself and cannot be judged as better than/worse than. it's something that stands out all on its own.

It's only four songs, but each one is just a mindblower. The title track is crazy good. I remember listening to it with my then girlfriend (now my wfe) and she said, "What's this cacaphony?" To this day I still harbor a bit of resentment towards her for saying that because to me that piece of music just pulls out all the stops and makes you realize that Coltrane was no ordinary composer...no ordinary musician...no ordinary human being.

Here was a man that had a thumb on the pulse of his own soul. Here was a man that could translate the sounds, the squeals, and the squalls of the angels. This CD belongs to every music fan's collection. This is not just for diehard jazz fans, this is for music lovers everywhere.

Love yourself a little more and buy this CD. It's flippin' fantastic!

I'm writing this review to concur with what has already been said--this is a great Coltrane album. The title track is good enough to stand alongside "Acknowledgement" from A Love Supreme, which is about the highest compliment I can give a jazz song.

One of the better parts of this CD is the contribution of the other players. The rest of the band contributes as much to the songs as Coltrane, and to great effect. There aren't as many lengthy Trane solos, which I usually enjoy but at times find tedious (I know, I know, it's almost sacreligious to suggest such a thing). On the title track, Elvin Jones works his drum kit, and in particular his cymbals, as beautifully as anything on a Love Supreme. The title track also features Eric Dolphy's flute and a stunning two-bass solo section that is one of the more unique and wonderful moments in my entire jazz collection.

This is a solid set of music all around-- not a single song here is filler. If you like Coltrane's music from this period, you should definitely add this to your collection.

The opening bars of "Olé" begin a slow, sometimes hypnotic journey through Iberia with Trane as conductor. On soprano sax, he weaves Moorish lines while Eric Dolphy adds an unusual wrinkle, a flute solo that avoids that instrument's usual hippy dippy tweeness. Freddie Hubbard adds to the Spanish feel with his trumpet, and then like two groaning sages, the bass players speak to one another in an obscure, mysterious language. "Olé" has all the yearning of Coltrane's best music. "Aisha", on the other hand, though written by pianist McCoy Tyner, speaks to his gentleness, his celebration of beauty. Inspired no doubt by a soulful woman, the ballad is reminiscent of Trane's "Naima". On the whole, it's a reflective and restrained album that only gives the slightest intimation of the volcanic intensity that would soon follow.

Ole is not generally found in (worthless) big box record stores, and is one of the somewhat more "obscure" (if there can be such a thing in regard to Trane) titles in Coltrane's prolific catalogue. As such, it is a collection that is overshadowed by albums/CDs like Giant Steps, A Love Supreme, Live at Birdland, and even Ascension. Even the local jazz stations seem to give short-shift to Ole.

However, if - like me, you enjoy Coltrane but have put off getting Ole - or are unfamiliar with it, you are in for a real treat. The hypnotic title track, Ole, ranks with Coltrane's very best compositions. It is remeniscent of India from the Impressions CD but it's more accessible and somehow is more surreal without being full-throttle avanteguard. To Her Ladyship is simply a beautiful jazz ballad, with some unique and evocative flute solos courtesy of Eric Dolphy. Aisha - probably the most familiar track from Ole, is as another jazz ballad gem with some nice trumpet by Freddie Hubbard

Ole is powerful and hypnotic grouping of Coltrane compositions. It's pointless to "rank" collections or say one is "better than" this one or that when speaking of the true giants like Trane. For whatever reason, Ole has been somewhat overshadowed and to a degree overlooked. None-the-less, to me it's right up there with Coltrane's adknowledged masterpieces.

I vividly remember when I first heard "Ole." It was playing on the radio on a local station as I was driving. I was so mesmerized I pulled over and sat there for 15 minutes listening to the opening track "Ole." Though the other tracks on this CD are all excellent and in the same style as "Giant Steps," "My Favorite Things," and "Coltrane's Sound," The clear standout is 'Ole.' I can not begin to calculate the number of times I played this song and every time it gets better and better. There may be better Coltrane albums, but in my opinion, this is among his finest moments. Haunting, unique and passionate. Highly Recommended.

A friend of mine once told me that I should sell all of my albums and replace them with Coltrane's Ole. They were right. If there is a more perfect album, I would like to know it. From the opening bass line the listener is propelled into a world which can only bear the name: John Coltrane. This isn't even mentioning the rest of the line-up including Freddy Hubbard, Eric Dolphy, and not to mention McCoy Tyner & Elvin Jones. A classic.

one thing good about our world: there are a LOT of john coltrane albums out there. problem is, with all the great work he did, some of it tends to fall through the cracks. it seems that this fantastic album has unjustly taken a bit of that route. well i'm here now, doing what little i can to put things right on the matter. GET THIS ALBUM! do you hear me? don't let it slip off your radar. it's john coltrane AND eric dolphy together, for heaven's sake. freddie hubbard's playing the trumpet on the thing! and mccoy tyner's piano work is always astonishing with coltrane. elvin jones on drums, ditto. get it. get it. get it. get it. i am not kidding.

I started listening to John Coltrane about twenty five years ago, but for some reason I never heard this album until recently. I'm sorry I waited so long, but on the bright side it's a real treat to discover this music now. The horns are great and McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones are really in sync, especially on the title track. Highly recommended!

Wow when i first heard this album i didn't know jazz could get this good. From begining to end this album was pure enjoyment.Standouts are Ole hypnotic the solos, the mood, everything. Aisha beautiful what more can i say. Rainy day love making song. The others songS dont fall short either. After this album i bought alot more jazz albums especially from coltrane.