John Coltrane - Blue Train (2007) [10 CD Wallet Box]

Personnel: John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Lee Morgan (trumpet); Curtis Fuller (trombone); Kenny Drew (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Philly Joe Jones (drums).Recorded at Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on September 15, 1957. Originally released on Blue Note (81577). Includes liner notes by Robert Levin and Bob Blumenthal. With 1957's BLUE TRAIN, John Coltrane not only firmly established his own voice on the tenor saxophone, but also proved his abilities as a bandleader and composer. The musicians on BLUE TRAIN, hand-picked by Coltrane himself, play superbly, not only as individuals, but also as a cohesive unit–a rare occurence in an era where "all-star" ensembles would come together for one session, then disband just as quickly. Nineteen-year-old trumpeter Lee Morgan spins bop lines in a warm tone, belying his age with his extraordinary playing, while drummer Philly Joe Jones and bassist Paul Chambers keep BLUE TRAIN running with impressive agility.Two of Coltrane's compositions here, "Moment's Notice" and "Lazy Bird," contain the seeds of harmonic exploration to be found in his later work. At this stage of his career, Trane was still occupied with blowing over increasingly challenging chord changes. His unique tone could be warm and sweet or sharp and insistent, but is always amazingly expressive. Throughout this revered album, Coltrane packs more emotion into one phrase than most arists are capable of in a whole tune.

Recorded at the Ven Gelder Studios, Hackensack, New Jersey between August 16, 1957 and May 23, 1958. Includes liner notes by Stuart Kremsky.
Digitally remastered by Joe Tarantino (1996, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).
Recorded in 1957, BLUE TRAIN is considered by the artist himself to be his finest work. In the mid-50's, Trane played with Miles Davis and Thelonius Monk, and he used the experience to propel himself to new heights of improvisational hard bop. The elements that comprise BLUE TRAIN would come to influence every generation of musicians that followed.
The bluesy title track kicks in with an extended Coltrane tenor sax solo. Four years later Coltrane would also adopt soprano sax into his fold. This leads into solos by Lee Morgan on trumpet, Curtis Fuller on trombone, Kenny Drew on piano and Paul Chambers brings it home on the bass. Philly Joe Jones keeps the beat impeccably throughout, with a slight shuffle. "Moment's Notice" quickens the pace and showcases Jones' more intricate drumming. "Locomotion" takes an almost rock 'n' roll pace with the sax and trumpet playing in perfect tandem. Coltrane then shows his diversity by taking it easy and delicate in "I'm Old Fashioned." "Lazy Bird" is an excellent mid tempo number that concludes the album.


Tracklist

Blue Train (CD1)

01. On It (Hope) (9:05)
02. Polka Dots And Moonbeams (Van Heusen - Blake) (8:40)
03. Weeja (Hope) (11:10)
04. Avalon (Jolson - Desylva - Rose) (9:41)
05. Tenor Madness (Rollins) (12:19)
06. Tenor Conclave (Mobley) (8:21)
07. Bob's Boys (Mobley) (11:05)

Blue Train (CD2)

01. Just You, Just Me (Klages - Greer) (9:30)
02. How Deep Is The Ocean? (Berlin) (15:27)
03. Soultrane (Damerone) (5:24)
04. Gnid (Damerone) (5:09)
05. Mating Call (Damerone) (5:36)
06. On A Misty Night (Damerone) (6:22)
07. Romas (Damerone) (6:52)
08. Super Jet (Damerone) (5:55)

Blue Train (CD3)

01. Interplay (Waldron) (9:40)
02. Soul Eyes (Waldron) (17:32)
03. Anatomy (Waldron) (11:55)
04. Light Blue (Waldron) (7:51)
05. C.T.A (Heath) (4:42)
06. Solacium (Flanagan) (9:10)

Blue Train (CD4)

01. Tommy's Time (Flanagan) (12:00)
02. Minor Mishap (Flanagan) (7:26)
03. Witches' Pit (Adams) (6:42)
04. Mary's Blues (Adams) (6:48)
05. Cat Walk (Charles) (7:13)
06. Route Four (Charles) (6:55)
07. Dakar (Charles) (7:10)
08. Velvet Scene (Waldron) (4:43)

Blue Train (CD5)

01. Potpourri (Waldron) (6:37)
02. Don't Explain (Holiday - Herzog) (6:58)
03. Falling In Love With Love (Hart - Rodgers) (11:39)
04. J.M.'S Dream Doll (Waldron) (8:41)
05. Chronic Blues (Coltrane) (8:14)
06. Bakai (Massey) (8:43)
07. While My Lady Sleeps (Kahn - Kaper) (4:43)

Blue Train (CD6)

01. Time Was (Da La Fuente) (7:29)
02. Slowtrane (Coltrane) (7:19)
03. I Hear A Rhapsody (Baker) (5:59)
04. Violets For Your Furs (Dennis - Adair) (6:17)
05. Trane's Slo Blues (Coltrane) (6:02)
06. Like Someone In Love (Burke) (4:58)
07. I Love You (Porter) (5:31)
08. Monk's Mood (Monk) (7:52)
09. Trinkle, Tinkle (Monk) (6:41)
10. Nutty (Monk) (6:35)

Blue Train (CD7)

01. Blue Train (Coltrane) (10:42)
02. Moment's Notice (Coltrane) (9:10)
03. Locomotion (Coltrane) (7:14)
04. I'm Old Fashioned (Mercer - Kern) (7:58)
05. Lazy Bird (Coltrane) (7:06)
06. Dealin' (Take 1) (Valdron) (10:02)
07. Things Ain't What They Used To Be (Persons - Ellington) (8:25)

Blue Train (CD8)

01. Wheelin' (Take 1) (Valdron) (10:26)
02. Robbin's Nest (Thompson - Jacquet) (15:34)
03. Dealin' (Take 2) (Valdron) (10:18)
04. Wheelin' (Take 2) (Valdron) (11:23)
05. Slow Dance (Levister) (5:26)
06. Soft Lights And Sweet Music (Berlin) (4:39)

Blue Train (CD9)

01. Traneing In (Coltrane) (12:34)
02. You Leave Me Breathless (Hollaender - Freed) (7:23)
03. Bass Blues (Coltrane) (7:45)
04. Woody'n You (Gillespie) (6:50)
05. I Got It Bad (And That Ain't Good) (Ellington - Webste) (6:16)
06. They Can't Take That Away From Me (G. & I. Gershwin) (10:26)
07. Our Delight (T. Dameron) (6:18)

Blue Train (CD10)

01. Monk's Mood (Monk) (7:52)
02. Evidence (Monk) (4:42)
03. Crepuscule With Nellie (Monk) (4:27)
04. Nutty (Monk) (5:04)
05. Epistrophy (Monk - Clarke) (4:31)
06. Bye-Ya (Monk) (6:15)
07. Sweet And Lovely (Arnheim - Tobias) (9:35)
08. Blue Monk (Monk) (6:31)
09. Epistrophy (Incomplete) (Monk - Clarke) (2:21)