Coltrane "must haves"?

gimmeagig · #1 08-24-2010, 09:13 PM

Hi,
I know that Coltrane was one of Brecker's favorite sax players so I decided to look into him a bit more in depth.
I bought Standards, Giant Steps, Blue Trane and Ballads.
And I really like what I hear.
I'm a electric bass player, I'm 54 and have been playing all my life in pretty much all styles including straight ahead.I'm sort of a stickler for being able to hear the bass very well which is why a lot of older recordings even though the playing might have been great, don't really do it for me. Brian Bromberg is my favorite player on upright for tone.
My question is:
Are there any Coltrane recordings that stick out for have great sound and definition on the low end?.
I think I have a good start with the recordings I have, but I'd like to know if there are any "Coltrane must haves" from a bassplayer's ( or audiophile's)point of view.
Also I guess there is a earlier phase and a later phase in Coltrane's style and the two are supposed to be very different.
Sheets of sound is a term I've heard. What does that mean?

JimK · #2 08-25-2010, 05:31 AM

Sheets Of Sound-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheets_of_sound

For me, Coltrane isn't about "bass"...he has had some good ones, though (Paul Chambers, Jimmy Garrison, Reggie Workman, Art Davis, etc). In Coltrane's later groups, the bass' role was pretty much a drone.
...for me, it's more about 'Trane & Elvin Jones (& Rashied Ali) & McCoy Tyner.

For something a whole lot different than Giant Steps, Blue Trane, Standards, & Ballads-

Interstellar Space is just sax & drums...if anyone could put into sound what explosions in Space might sound like...it's late period Coltrane.
Ascension is another bombardment...I try to listen to this 1-2 times per year as a treat (& it's about all I can take).

Prior to this, albums like Impressions (w/ Eric Dolphy) & Coltrane (AKA "The Blue Album"...the 1st one w/ the Classic 4-tet) are less violent & more "in" than "out" but not 100% "straight".

Bruce Lindfield · #3 08-25-2010, 06:55 AM

My favourite album is "Coltrane's Sound" - but "A Love Supreme" is often seen as his "masterpiece" - it also has some pretty clear bass solo parts!

Bruce Lindfield · #4 08-25-2010, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

For me, Coltrane isn't about "bass"....

But speaking as a Jazz Double Bass player, I love playing his tunes in bands - I played "Central Park West" with a big(ish) group and the chord sequence is so beautiful, that it was a real joy to play a very simple line!

The only thing is that you don't get to do it that often..

as a lot of Jazz players feel they are too "obvious" ...

Bruce Lindfield · #5 08-25-2010, 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gimmeagig

I think I have a good start with the recordings I have, but I'd like to know if there are any "Coltrane must haves" from a bassplayer's ( or audiophile's)point of view.

Of course - he is most famous for playing with Miles Davis in the group that made "Kind of Blue" (the most popular Jazz album ever) and a few other albums which are must-haves for a Jazz collection.

JimK · #6 08-25-2010, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

...but "A Love Supreme" is often seen as his "masterpiece" - it also has some pretty clear bass solo parts!

I'm due to re-visit that one, too.
The thing is...once that 4-note (bass) motif gets in your head...

Bruce Lindfield · #7 08-25-2010, 08:23 AM

Same for Carlos and Macca!!

zombywoof5050 · #8 08-25-2010, 08:27 AM

I don't know how bassworthy you would consider them, but a couple that I like which haven't been mentioned are:

Live At The Village Vangard: The Master Takes
Crescent

Edit: There is also a 4-disc set available of the complete Village Vangard recordings, but I haven't heard it.

jerry · #9 08-25-2010, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

I'm due to re-visit that one, too.
The thing is...once that 4-note (bass) motif gets in your head...

That's the genius of that groove, very meditative and perfect for that song.

One of the top recordings ever! IMHO

One Drop · #10 08-25-2010, 03:42 PM

Great sounding bass on the Impact! recordings around mid '60s, too. Jimmy Garrison on Africa, India, etc. I think he doesn't get the credit he deserves- he played pure sound as much as bass, if you know what I mean.

Jazzomaniac · #11 08-25-2010, 03:57 PM

Speaking of Coltrane here's a live performance of "My Favorite Things" from a show I recently acquired through trading. It lasts for over 25 minutes(!) and besides Coltrane it features Eric Dolphy, Reggie Workman, McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. It's from November the 18th, 1961in Paris. It was recorded for a radio-broadcast, but keep in mind that it's old so the sound is still not superb:

Mp3:

http://www.mediafire.com/?yncv33793kwsw

Wav:

http://www.mediafire.com/?7sg663he70f73

Shakin-Slim · #12 08-25-2010, 11:45 PM

Check the album Duke Ellington & John Coltrane. 'Seemingly' simple stuff there from Garrison

Bruce Lindfield · #13 08-26-2010, 01:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Drop

Great sounding bass on the Impact! recordings around mid '60s, too. Jimmy Garrison on Africa, India, etc. I think he doesn't get the credit he deserves- he played pure sound as much as bass, if you know what I mean.

I think there is a sense in which improvisors especially as they get "Free-er" - really like the bass to be indistinct, as it allows more freedom of note choice - so it is easier to blend in on Double Bass with notes that would stick out like a sore thumb, if played cleanly on bass guitar...?

LM Bass · #14 08-26-2010, 01:52 AM

Blue Trane, the record with Johnnie Hartmann, Live at the Village Vanguard, and everything else he ever recorded anywhere. . . : )

bigtiny · #15 08-26-2010, 02:11 AM

I can't really answer your question from a bass player/audiophile perspective. I can tell you that from what you've said, I would recommend two boxed sets:

http://www.amazon.com/COLTRANE-Class...ntt_mus_ep_dpi

http://www.amazon.com/Heavyweight-Ch...2810231&sr=1-3

These will get you all of the Atlantic recordings and the Impulse recordings by the classic quartet (coltrane, tyner, garrison, jones)

bigtiny

JimK · #16 08-26-2010, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Lindfield

My favourite album is "Coltrane's Sound"

Last night I looked...I have 50+ Coltrane albums but I don't have that one!

jerry · #17 08-26-2010, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Last night I looked...I have 50+ Coltrane albums but I don't have that one!

Ain't that always the way!

Ed Fuqua · #18 08-26-2010, 05:56 AM

I highly recommend the Monk/Trane "rediscovered" concert released a couple of years back, as well as the live Half Note recording ONE DOWN ONE UP.

dalkowski · #19 08-26-2010, 05:59 AM

Can't believe no one's mentioned "Soultrane" yet.

The Mouse · #20 08-26-2010, 09:06 AM

Lately, I've been listening to Blue Train and My Favourite Things. I must admit that I don't listen to Coltrane to hear the bass player. It's usually him that I'm listening to. Bill Evans has had some great bassists/ bass performances on his albums. You can't go wrong with any Miles album either. Get your hands on Mingus - Tijuana Moods. I love it..