jazzbo Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 (edited) Vol. 5 was released Tuesday. My copy is in the mail . . . .Live in Seattle (2 lps on 1 cd), Sun Ship, Transition, Infinity (with Alice Coltrane and Strings) and Live in Japan (2 lps on 1 cd). Edited October 6, 2011 by jazzbo Quote
jazzbo Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Posted October 6, 2011 The Jurek "All Music Guide" review for what it's worth: The fifth and final volume in Universal's massive John Coltrane: The Impulse! Albums in the Originals series, contains five recordings, all issued posthumously between 1970 and 1973. Two of these, Transition and Sun Ship, feature Coltrane's classic quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones. Of the remaining albums, two are live recordings -- Live in Seattle and Concert in Japan -- the remaining one being the infamous Infinity. Transition (AS-9195) was recorded in May and June of 1965. It is comprised of two long pieces, the title track, and the five-part "Suite," as well as the five-minute bridge between them, "Dear Lord" which, in its way, is both a conclusion to the fiery engagement of the title track and an intro to the labyrinthine, 21-minute, multi-part work. Musically, this is as fine as anything cut by the quartet, post 1963. It is fully engaged and realized. Its group interplay pushes at the edges, but contains passages of intense modal lyricism. Why it wasn't released during Coltrane's lifetime is curious. By contrast, Sun Ship (AS-9211, 1971), recorded in August of 1966, is a much more aggressive album with a much shoddier sound. It was clearly unfinished: Tyner's piano and Garrison's bass in the right channel are recorded far lower than Jones' drums in the left; only Coltrane's tenor is in both. Other than the title track and "Dearly Beloved," the rest sounds and feels like thematic sketches with long improvisations in between. Live in Seattle was also released in 1971 as AS 9202-2 on a double LP, and contained four tracks. It was recorded in September of 1965 with the quartet plus Pharoah Sanders and Donald Rafael Garrett on bass clarinet. While this performance is startling in revealing the direction Coltrane was heading with Sanders, the sound quality is somewhat dodgy, with instruments unbalanced and dropping out of the mix altogether in places. The 35-plus-minute "Evolution," which was split over two sides, contains the scariest moment (literally) in late 20th century music: when Coltrane and Sanders, who can go no further with their horns, begin shouting and moaning their improvisations. Infinity (AS-9225, 1972) is, as stated earlier, infamous. It contains four tracks from three different sessions in 1966. Alice Coltrane took unfinished demo recordings -- two with his earlier quartet, one with Sanders, Rashied Ali, and herself, and one with simply saxophone and drums, with dubbed piano, organ, tambura, and percussion parts added to them. She also dubbed Charlie Haden's bass onto three of these pieces (one, "Joy," in addition to Garrison's), and then arranged and added a string section to the entire album. Hearing it now, it's a much more gentle and tasteful sounding recording if rightfully questionable for the liberties she took with the demos. At the time it was a shock, and remains controversial. Finally, Concert in Japan (AS-9246-2) cut in Tokyo in July of 1966, and released as a double LP is a showcase of what this final quintet was capable of when firing on all cylinders. "Peace on Earth," at 25 minutes, is a beautiful modal piece with some outside soloing by both saxophonists. The nearly 45-minute "Meditations"/"Leo" is aural evidence of the improvisational power of the band; it features some fine bass clarinet from Sanders and piano work from Alice that is remarkable. Ultimately, while much of this music is fascinating, some of these albums will remain controversial because of the choices Alice and Ed Michel made, and is for those Coltrane completists who haven't already purchased these 24-bit remastered CDs before, either in the States or from Japan. ~Thom Jurek, Rovi All Music Guide Quote
felser Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Very accurate review according to my ears and memory. As noted earlier, 'Transition' is absolutely essential Trane. Sunship is right on the cusp between 'A Love Supreme' and the Pharoah Sanders era, and fascinating. And 'Concert in Japan' is to me the high point of the Alice Coltrane/Rashied Ali quintet. The 4CD set released in the early 90's (247 minutes for six "songs") is very worthwhile. AMG Review Quote
jazzbo Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Posted October 6, 2011 (edited) My biggest quibble is his final line about previous 24 bit cds. There haven't been that many to buy. I'm listening through Vol. 4 right now and the remastered sound quality is just stunning to me, on my system. The albums in that one hadn't been updated sonically for a while. It was worth the wait. Edited October 6, 2011 by jazzbo Quote
Cali Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 The Jurek "All Music Guide" review for what it's worth: Transition (AS-9195) was recorded in May and June of 1965. It is comprised of two long pieces, the title track, and the five-part "Suite," as well as the five-minute bridge between them, "Dear Lord" which, in its way, is both a conclusion to the fiery engagement of the title track and an intro to the labyrinthine, 21-minute, multi-part work. ~Thom Jurek, Rovi All Music Guide My original LP copy and my CD of TRANSITION does not contain DEAR LORD. Instead the song is WELCOME. I listened to a sound clip of this new release on Amazon.com and indeed, it was WELCOME. Please let us know after you receive your copy what the actual tune is. I love WELCOME but DEAR LORD is my ultimate Coltrane ballad. Thanks. Quote
Pete C Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 Originally Dear Lord on LP, so you must have a different issue. From Wikipedia: Tracklisting 1. Transition 2. Dear Lord (moved to the CD issue of Dear Old Stockholm with the rest of the sessions from that LP) 3. Suite: Prayer and Meditation: Day, Peace and After, Prayer and Meditation: Evening, Affirmation, Prayer and Meditation: 4 A.M. [edit] 1993 CD Track listing 1. Transition (15:31) 2. Welcome (5:24) (originally released on Kulu Sé Mama) 3. Suite: Prayer and Meditation: Day, Peace and After, Prayer and Meditation: Evening, Affirmation, Prayer and Meditation: 4 A.M. (21:21) 4. Vigil (9:42) (originally released on Kulu Sé Mama) Quote
felser Posted October 6, 2011 Report Posted October 6, 2011 DEAR LORD is my ultimate Coltrane ballad. Thanks. Had "Dear Lord" played live (sax and piano only) as interlude at our wedding in 1993. Quote
jazzbo Posted October 6, 2011 Author Report Posted October 6, 2011 I have a (stunning gatefold) Japanese lp facsimile cd from a few years ago that has "Dear Lord" and I'd wager this is the very same mastering of the lp material ("Ascension" from the same batch of lp facsimile releases has as far as I can tell the same mastering and sonics to the version in the third Impulse Album volume.) Quote
JSngry Posted October 7, 2011 Report Posted October 7, 2011 My original LP copy and my CD of TRANSITION does not contain DEAR LORD. Instead the song is WELCOME. I listened to a sound clip of this new release on Amazon.com and indeed, it was WELCOME. Please let us know after you receive your copy what the actual tune is. I love WELCOME but DEAR LORD is my ultimate Coltrane ballad. Thanks. My original LP of Transition does have "Dear Lord". I have "Welcome" on Kulu Se Mama. Quote
Cali Posted October 7, 2011 Report Posted October 7, 2011 My original LP copy and my CD of TRANSITION does not contain DEAR LORD. Instead the song is WELCOME. I listened to a sound clip of this new release on Amazon.com and indeed, it was WELCOME. Please let us know after you receive your copy what the actual tune is. I love WELCOME but DEAR LORD is my ultimate Coltrane ballad. Thanks. My original LP of Transition does have "Dear Lord". I have "Welcome" on Kulu Se Mama. Weird.... Quote
jazzbo Posted October 7, 2011 Author Report Posted October 7, 2011 (edited) Cali, I didn't know that they made that substitution on any lp, I've never seen one, but they did alter the contents (and expand the contents) for the US cd. Still waiting on my Vol. 5 to arrive. Giving me plenty of time to keep listening to the Europe '72 Grateful Dead material. Gotta do that. Mr. Charlie told me so. Edited October 7, 2011 by jazzbo Quote
JSngry Posted October 7, 2011 Report Posted October 7, 2011 Yeah, I never bought the CD just because I didn't like that change. Quote
Pete C Posted October 7, 2011 Report Posted October 7, 2011 From Wikipedia: 2. Dear Lord (moved to the CD issue of Dear Old Stockholm with the rest of the sessions from that LP) I don't remember a pre-CD issue of Dear Old Stockholm. Was there one? If not, I think it should say "moved to the CD issue of Dear Old Stockholm with the rest of the tracks from that session." Quote
JSngry Posted October 7, 2011 Report Posted October 7, 2011 The LP was called The Mastery Of John Coltrane/Volume 2 * To The Beat Of A Different Drum. Quote
jazzbo Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Posted October 9, 2011 Received my set today. in all packaging ways it's the same as Vol. 4. Including not so great artwork printing. The second track on "Transition" is "Dear Lord." What I've heard sounds very good. Quote
CJ Shearn Posted October 9, 2011 Report Posted October 9, 2011 Glad I have the 4 CD "Live in Japan" set because since those are the complete performances I don't plan on upgrading. I would imagine "Live in Seattle" doesn't contain the previously unissued tracks as the 2 CD version tho "Afro Blue" is incomplete. Quote
Cali Posted October 9, 2011 Report Posted October 9, 2011 (edited) Received my set today. in all packaging ways it's the same as Vol. 4. Including not so great artwork printing. The second track on "Transition" is "Dear Lord." What I've heard sounds very good. Thanks, that's good to know. Amazon.com should correct their sound clip for this cd because track 2 of disc 1 is identified as "Dear Lord/Transition" but the sound clip is "Welcome". Edited October 9, 2011 by Cali Quote
jazzbo Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Posted October 9, 2011 Glad I have the 4 CD "Live in Japan" set because since those are the complete performances I don't plan on upgrading. I would imagine "Live in Seattle" doesn't contain the previously unissued tracks as the 2 CD version tho "Afro Blue" is incomplete. Well, the intent of this series is to recreate the lps themselves. So yes, there is more material on both of those releases. I have experience with these albums as lps before the cds and as a result I enjoy listening to them in lp format. I'll liklely listen to these versions more often from here on out. That's because the sonic improvement is imo not subtle over the earlier cds. Quote
CJ Shearn Posted October 9, 2011 Report Posted October 9, 2011 (edited) Vast improvement sonically in the box for "Live in Seattle" and "Concert in Japan" Lon? How are the dynamics? Edited October 9, 2011 by CJ Shearn Quote
jazzbo Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Posted October 9, 2011 (edited) Live in Seattle is definitely improved. I haven't spun Concert in Japan yet and done the comparison. Dynamics are a bit improved on Seattle, the most improved is the clarity and tonal balance imo. Edit to add: Did a few comparisons. The Seattle is most improved of all the titles in my opinion. Concert in Japan is improved as well, there seems more body to the instruments. It's hard to describe the overall improvements, I'd say that the new discs are a bit more forward, but instrumental images are more solidly presented. In most the bass is improved, seeming to have more presence and depth. Edited October 9, 2011 by jazzbo Quote
Pete C Posted October 9, 2011 Report Posted October 9, 2011 The LP was called The Mastery Of John Coltrane/Volume 2 * To The Beat Of A Different Drum. IIRC that was a 2-LP set with all Haynes tracks, but I believe it included stuff from other sessions, no? Quote
jazzbo Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Posted October 9, 2011 (edited) Yes, it includes a studio session from 1963 and one from 1965 and the 1963 Newport appearance. I've always liked the cover. http://www.discogs.com/John-Coltrane-The-Mastery-Of-John-Coltrane-Vol-II-To-The-Beat-Of-A-Different-Drum/release/935048 Edited October 9, 2011 by jazzbo Quote
JSngry Posted October 9, 2011 Report Posted October 9, 2011 Yeah, it was a compendium of recordings of Haynes subbing for Elvin. Quote
jazzbo Posted October 9, 2011 Author Report Posted October 9, 2011 Received my set today. in all packaging ways it's the same as Vol. 4. Including not so great artwork printing. The second track on "Transition" is "Dear Lord." What I've heard sounds very good. Thanks, that's good to know. Amazon.com should correct their sound clip for this cd because track 2 of disc 1 is identified as "Dear Lord/Transition" but the sound clip is "Welcome". UH OH. I was wrong, there's a major boo-boo here. Welcome IS the second tune on Transition. That's awful. Just awful supervision. I hope they come up with a replacement disc. PDQ. REALLY disappointing. Yeah, it was a compendium of recordings of Haynes subbing for Elvin. Prison is a drag. Quote
.:.impossible Posted October 9, 2011 Report Posted October 9, 2011 Yes, it includes a studio session from 1963 and one from 1965 and the 1963 Newport appearance. I've always liked the cover. Great cover. Never seen that before. http://www.discogs.com/John-Coltrane-The-Mastery-Of-John-Coltrane-Vol-II-To-The-Beat-Of-A-Different-Drum/release/935048 Quote
_forumlogo.png.a607ef20a6e0c299ab2aa6443aa1f32e.png)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.