Soultrane (20 Bit Mastering) [Original recording remastered]

John Coltrane | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 19, 1999)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Prestige
• ASIN: B00000K0YF
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #161,932 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Good Bait

2. I Want to Talk About You

3. You Say You Care

4. Theme for Ernie

5. Russian Lullaby

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful mainstream Trane, March 8, 2000

By 

Tyler Smith (Denver, CO United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Soultrane (20 Bit Mastering) (Audio CD)

If you're not yet sure that you want to take on mid-to-late'60s Trane, but you've got a taste for straight-ahead, no-nonsense jazz, this is the CD for you. This was the first record (you know, those vinyl things?) of Trane's that I bought, and it has remained a frequently played staple of my collection.

"Soultrane" was released in 1958, a pivotal year in Trane's development. He had absorbed well the lessons learned by playing in Miles' sextet and was playing with increasing confidence. That confidence virtually oozes out of the tracks on this release. From the opening cut, "Good Bait," through the scorching closer, "Russian Lullabye," the saxophonist is in complete control of his instrument, unleashing those famous "sheets of sound" that were his signature at this time.

Tellingly, he also stepped up to the plate on two ballads: "I Want to Talk About You," which he was to reinvent at various points later in his career, and "Theme for Ernie," a poignant tribute to the saxophonist Ernie Henry. Both of these performances demonstrate the lyrical cry that made Coltrane one of the best ballad interpreters of his or any other time.

While many point to "Blue Trane" as Coltrane's pivotal '50s release (it's a great album, no doubt), "Soultrane," for me is an even better example of the amazing development in his playing between 1955-1958. A year later, he would release "Giant Steps," and the legend was ready to grow. Anyone interested in following the development of this great artist should not exclude "Soultrane" from his or her collection.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coltrane standing on the edge of greatness., December 4, 2000

By 

"jazzfanmn" (St Cloud, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soultrane (20 Bit Mastering) (Audio CD)

When this album was recorded in February of 1958, John Coltrane was still an up an coming young tenor. As a solo artist outside of Miles Davis' group he had recorded his classic album "Blue Train" the previous year and was still almost exactly a year from cutting his breakthrough album "Giant Steps", leaving this album in a bit of a historical middleground. While this is not one of his better known sessions, it has moments that display his genius, and hints of what is to come. The moment that shines brightest is 'Trane's tender take on Billy Eckstine's "I Want To Talk About You". Coltrane's tenor is tender and haunting, one of his all time great ballad performances. Supported on this session by the rock solid trio of Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums, Coltrane is at ease with his sympathetic sidemen. Having recorded together several times, the familarity shows in their tight, cohesive performances. The mood of the tracks is generally laidback save for the uptempo "You Say You Care", and when Coltrane puts on a furious display of his "sheets of sound" approach on the cd's final track, "Russian Lullaby". This is an album that features Coltrane coming into his own during a crucial phase of his career, and is a classic. Recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Coltrane does it again!, December 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Soultrane (20 Bit Mastering) (Audio CD)

This is a great c.d! Although none of these songs were written by Coltrane himself, the sax-master interprets the songs into his own style and seems to make them his own. This c.d. was originally recorded in '57 and is one of his first c.d.'s playing as a leader. The c.d. is both swingin' and gentle at times. I rate it with the likes of 'Giant Steps'. Great! Please try!