John Coltrane – Olé Coltrane
By Harry Karalis
| Label: | Atlantic – SD 1373 |
|---|---|
| Format: | Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo |
| Country: | US |
| Released: | 1961 |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Style: | Modal, Avant-garde Jazz, Hard Bop |
Coltrane’s 1961 album, My Favorite Things, marked a turning point in his career, featuring his whirling, modal reinvention of the popular Rodgers and Hammerstein tune, his first forays on soprano sax, with the debuts of both McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones as steady members of his line-up and, as such, it is justifiably regarded as a classic.
But for all its charms, My Favorite Things is not one of my favourites. I far prefer his follow-up—and final recording for Atlantic—Ole’ Coltrane. Lush and evocative where My Favorite Things was bright and breezy, the album offers one of Coltrane’s most satisfying explorations of folk and world melodies, most notably the transcendent 18-minute title track, which gives haunting, expansive modal treatment to an old Spanish folk song, and features some breathtaking bass work from Reggie Workman and Art Davis (one bowing, while the other plucks and strums). Jones and Tyner have already made themselves at home, each providing solid backing and stunning solos (Tyner’s “Aisha” remains one of his most enchantingly beautiful compositions). And finally, Ole’ Coltrane marks the commencement of Coltrane’s brief but fruitful collaboration with multi-instrumentalist Eric Dolphy, who delivers star turns on flute and alto-sax.