Customer Reviews

Soul Junction

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

 

 

Combined with the companion CD "All Morning Long", and the third CD "High Pressure", this may well be the peak of the 'straight-ahead' jazz genre mountain. The chemistry is perfect. John Coltrane is at his best and Donald Byrd soars. Red and drummer Art Taylor are nearly telepathic at times on this session (check out Dizzy Gillespie's 'Woody'n You'). In the end, it is Red Garland's flawless blues, ballads, block chording, and sense of time that puts this session over the top. November and December, 1957. It doesn't get any better than this...

Red Garland had already made a name for himself as a truly great bop pianist. But the sessions in late '56 with a young John Coltrane and Donald Byrd sealed his place in history. This album is the true definition of hard-bop the perfectly showcases all the sidemen. Garland's subtlty and two-handed style push every song, while Coltrane's vicious attacks bring energy to these bluesy tracks. Byrd proves himself to be an incredible sideman, feeling his way through the songs with grace. Soul Junction, the title track is the true highlight of the album. Coltrane and Byrd take the first two solos, but its Garland himseld who proves that he is the leader of this band, meticulousy working his way up and down the ivory keys.

No one will dispute the greatness of this album but please remember it is only part of the puzzle. There are more gems to be found from this landmark session on the albums All Mornin' Long and High Pressure.
This is meant more as a public service announcement than a review.
Others have skillfully described the proceedings contained within and I am in full agreement. I just want anyone who has elevated themselves to this point to be aware of all the magic available to them. See my comments for All Mornin' Long for more info.

This cd is worth the price for the title tune alone.It's great to hear Red Garland stretch out on a slow blues that has no time constraint. Until this cd, I really appreciated his treatment of ballads........but, oh my!

There's a great rendition of "I've Got It Bad". Coltrane is in good form on this one which also features the appealing block chord technique of Red Garland.

The rest of the cd is good hard bop featuring good solos from the two horns in particular, especially the really clean sound from Donald Byrd. The support from Art Taylor on bass and George Joyner on drums is outstanding throughout the whole set.

This cd should really appeal to those who are fans of the hard bop of the fifties, any of the principal players, or just if you enjoy a really good quintet jazz set.

this is more Coltrane than Red Garland -- so get something else if you'd like to hear more of Red's piano. The combo is less than original this time round.

Found this in Paris more than ten years ago and have guarded it jealously, never never lending it ever to anyone regardless of their pleas. Once I played it to keep myself from strangling some evil people, even drowning out their grating laughter with skillful volume control. It worked and I am still a free woman.

Now that it is available in the states, I am going to give it to all my friends and hope that they have the grace to play it appropriately. For me whenever it is time. As they do the Rachel's "Music for Igon Schiele". Hey! It is not always time to dance and sing.