Jazz
"Gentle" is a relative term, for while this collection of material is mostly pitched at a slower set of tempos and a more lyrical frame of mind, John Coltrane was no less passionate in a allad as he was in a roaring frenzy. Originally issued on two LPs, and now as an excellent value on a single CD, The Gentle Side draws nine tracks from the legacy of the classic Coltrane quartet (with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones), adding a pair of tracks each from his collaborations with Duke Ellington and Johnny Hartman. You can say all you want about how a collection like this disregards the musical flow of the original albums -- which is true -- and still be caught up helplessly in the staggering emotional power of this man's playing. Even when heard in this context, performances like "After the Rain" and "Welcome" remain breathtaking in their spiritual beauty, and the combination of Coltrane's eloquence and the warm, masculine baritone of Hartman can still break your heart with their most-likely-untopped interpretation of "My One and Only Love." Above all, if you know anyone who has resisted Coltrane because of the fearsome reputation of his more agitated music, lay this CD on them.
By Richard S. Ginell. All Music Guide.
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In the early '60s, John Coltrane was pressing the expressive edge of jazz, playing solos of daunting length, astonishing speed, and blistering intensity. But while his more exploratory work fueled controversy, the saxophonist had also matured into one of the finest practitioners of the jazz ballad, as great a lyric player as Ben Webster or Miles Davis and possessing a beautiful sound, a kind of unknown precious metal that remains distinctive after decades of imitation. He often included ballads in LPs of more daunting material, and he also devoted three LPs to his gentler side, Ballads and collaborations with singer Johnny Hartman and Duke Ellington. This CD compiles both Coltrane's versions of standards and a selection of his own gentler compositions, creating a series of slower-tempo masterpieces that range from the serene to the pensive. As well as highlights from those three LPs, there is also the superb rendition of Mal Waldron's "Soul Eyes," a jazz standard, and Coltrane's own "Wise One," "After the Rain," and the somber "Alabama," melodies of almost unearthly beauty. The version of Billy Eckstine's "I Want to Talk About You," taken from a live recording at Birdland, possesses an unaccompanied tenor cadenza that stands as one of the most remarkable technical feats in jazz history. The version of "In a Sentimental Mood," with Ellington at the piano, is simply as beautiful as any recording ever made. So good is the selection that dedicated Coltrane fans who own the material in other forms may want to acquire it.
By Stuart Broomer. AMG.
**
According to the album's liner notes, THE GENTLE SIDE OF JOHN COLTRANE was assembled "to display the more lyrical and gentle side of the man's art," and it does just that. A collection of mostly mellow tracks recorded between 1961 and 1964, ... Full Descriptionthis record is a perfect choice for those who have never been able to "get" Coltrane's later, more experimental work, or newbies who are not quite ready for the cerebral qualities of straight hard bop.
In addition to a selection of excellent recordings featuring the classic Coltrane lineup of Mcoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones, there are also two tracks from Coltrane's historic 1962 album with Duke Ellington. These performances remind the listener that Ellington, while best remembered as a composer, was a gifted pianist who always cut right to the emotional heart of the music. Also included are songs from Coltrane's collaboration with vocalist Johnny Hartman and several lovely tunes in the "tone poem" vein, including the gorgeous and sad "After the Rain." Wrapping things up is "I Want to Talk About You," a good live example of the famous Coltrane "sheets of sound"--just in case anyone was getting too relaxed.
From CD Universe.
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John Coltrane- (Tenor Saxophone);
McCoy Tyner- (Piano);
Jimmy Garrison- (Bass);
Elvin Jones- (Drums).
Additional personnel:
Johnny Hartman- (Vocals);
Duke Ellington- (Piano);
Aaron Bell- (Bass);
Sam Woodyard,Roy Haynes- (Drums).
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01. Soul Eyes John Coltrane 5:25
02. What's New John Coltrane 3:45
03. Welcome John Coltrane 5:32 $0.89
04. Nancy (With The Laughing Face) John Coltrane 3:16
05. My Little Brown Book John Coltrane 5:18
06. Wise One John Coltrane 9:06
07. Lush Life John Coltrane 5:29
08. Alabama John Coltrane 2:27
09. My One And Only Love John Coltrane 4:56
10. After The Rain John Coltrane 4:13 $
11. In A Sentimental Mood Duke Ellington 4:15
12. Dear Lord John Coltrane 5:41
13. I Want To Talk About You John Coltrane 8:17
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