John Coltrane – 75th Birthday Celebration (Comp. 2001) (Prestige-Riverside) (3-CD)

Countless anthologies exist containing material from John Coltrane's considerably prolific 19-month (May 31, 1956 — December 31, 1958) association with Prestige Records. Particularly the all-inclusive, 16-disc Prestige Recordings (1991) box set. As most others are either too short or aimed specifically at one facet of the artist's output, few have truly been able to capture as wide a spectrum as this extremely thrifty three-CD compilation. The contents are presented in a primarily chronological fashion, appropriately commencing with "Tenor Madness" hailing off of a confab between Coltrane (tenor sax) and Sonny Rollins. One selection that isn't found on the Prestige Recordings is "Airegin" from the John Coltrane and the Jazz Giants (1956) get together, furthering the practically indispensable nature of 75th Birthday Celebration for the casual and hardcore listener alike. Entries in which Coltrane was a guest or co-lead include selections off of Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors ("Soul Eyes"), The Cats ("Eclypso"), Dakar ("Route 4"), Cattin' with Coltrane and Quinichette ("Vodka") and as a guest on the Mal Waldron project The Dealers ("Blue Calypso"). Granted, there are a few glaring omissions — such as "Super Jet," "Slowtrane," "Two Bass Hit,""Stardust," and "The Believer." However, all told, even the most scholarly Coltrane enthusiasts would have to be impressed with the variety found on Coltrane's 75th Birthday Celebration.

Please note that these are old but good EAC rips, without LOG , made with an older EAC version, and coming from my archives on external hard disc. The package for covers only contains single front, 3 x back (with track listings) and disc scans.

Personnel & Recording Studios & Recording Dates:

See Back Covers

Tracklists:

CD 1:

01. Tenor Madness
02. On a Misty Night
03. Airegin
04. Soul Eyes
05. Eclypso
06. Route 4
07. Vodka
08. Blue Calypso

CD 2:

01. Bakai
02. While My Lady Sleeps
03. Nutty
04. Well, You Needn't
05. Like Someone in Love
06. Soft Lights and Sweet Music
07. Paul's Pal
08. Lush Life
09. Groove Blues

CD 3:

01. Lover
02. I Want to Talk About You
03. Russian Lullaby
04. Why Was I Born?
05. Black Pearls
06. I See Your Face Before Me
07. Spring Is Here
08. Do I Love You Because You're Beautiful?
09. Bahia
10. Goldsboro Express

Sound Quality: 7/8