John Coltrane

2-LP ON 1 CD

When asked in a 1960 radio interview which was his favorite of all the albums he recorded up to that point, John Coltrane was quick to reply: "Blue Train". Coltrane’s September 15, 1957 studio session in Hackensack, New Jersey produced all of the material for that legendary album, which marked the first time that Trane was given the opportunity to select his own sidemen for a date. He made good use of his newfound freedom, enlisting the support of trumpeter Lee Morgan, trombonist Curtis Fuller, pianist Kenny Drew, bassist Paul Chambers and drummer Philly Joe Jones. John Coltrane would only record with Lee Morgan on two occasions: first on Johnny Griffin’s April 6 & 17, 1957 sessions for the LP A Blowing Session, followed by Blue Train several months later. The other member of the front line, Curtis Fuller, began his recorded collaboration with Coltrane on Paul Chambers’ album "High Step" (recorded in a quintet setting with Philly Joe Jones on drums in Boston on April 20, 1956), followed by a date for pianist Sonny Clark for his album Sonny’s Crib, which took place just two weeks before the Blue Train date (and featured the ubiquitous Chambers on bass).

As for the rhythm section, Kenny Drew had appeared with Coltrane on Chambers’ March 2, 1956 date for the album Chamber’s Music that featured the same rhythm section as Blue Train (Drew, Chambers & Jones) with Coltrane as the sole horn. They would never record together again after the latter album was made. Trane’s professional association with Chambers and Jones began when the three of them were members of Miles Davis’ first great quintet (with pianist Red Garland as the fifth member).

PERSONNEL:

JOHN COLTRANE, tenor saxophone
LEE MORGAN, trumpet
CURTIS FULLER, trombone
KENNY DREW, piano
PAUL CHAMBERS, bass
PHILLY JOE JONES, drums

Hackensack, New Jersey, September 15, 1957

[6-10] BONUS ALBUM: LUSH LIFE

On 6-8: JOHN COLTRANE, tenor sax; EARL MAY, bass; ARTHUR TAYLOR, drums.
Hackensack, New Jersey, August 16, 1957.

On 9-10: JOHN COLTRANE, tenor sax; DONALD BYRD, trumpet (on 9 only);
RED GARLAND, piano; PAUL CHAMBERS, bass; LOUIS HAYES, drums (on 9);
ALBERT “TOOTIE” HEATH, drums (on 10).
Hackensack, New Jersey, January 10, 1958 (track 9) & May 31, 1957 (track 10).

TRACKS:

01 BLUE TRAIN
02 MOMENT’S NOTICE
03 LOCOMOTION
04 I’M OLD FASHIONED
05 LAZY BIRD
06 LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE
07 I LOVE YOU
08 TRANE’S SLOW BLUES
09 LUSH LIFE
10 I HEAR A RHAPSODY

TOTAL TIME: 79:00