| | Full Review | Ratings (72) |
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| 4.5 superb | Bedex | October 13th 20 |
A frankly excellent live album that deserves the praise it receives. Despite a couple slightly aggressive cymbals and things this is way better mixed than some of his studio recordings from that time if I'm honest. As quite often with Coltrane, the first track is a magical behemoth and perhaps the peak of the album here, but its qualities are continued by 2 and 3 albeit with a bit less harmonic spice. All three tracks feature absolutely bonkers drumming, extremely fun grooves, excellent piano playing tying everything up, and fun sax - it's just pure love. 4 changes things up a bit, and it makes sense since it was recorded in a different session apparently - but weirdly enough I found that it flows quite well, and is a good choice to relax a bit from the fun intensity of 1-3. It is kind of cool and intriguing, and in another album would work well as an opener, but functions very well here too. 5 does the same, and the quality and freshness these two tracks bring enable the album to not only not feel excessively long or tiresome, but also just bring freshness that bring the rating ever so slightly up. 4.25
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | Erwann S. STAFF | May 9th 23 |
The John Coltrane Quartet (sans Dolphy :[ ) was mighty powerful, and this live is a testimony of that colossal force. "Afro Blues" is the prime example of that era, both a brute show from drummer Elvin Jones as well as a lesson in harmonics from Trane. These two truly are the quartet's driving force, yet the respective groove and smoothness brought by the bass and piano are nice (and essential) counterpoints to Trane and Jones' power. It especially shows on "Alabama", whose beautifulness comes from the quartet's synergy: no polyrhythm or enraged solo here, but a harmony in tone that reaches summits of solemness. The rest (as usual) is standard 60s jazz, delightfully performed but not "life-changing" good
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| 4.5 superb | GamamJ | October 14th 20 |
Too good. The drumming here has my jaw near the ground constantly. Coltrane also starts sounding more dissonant, which
would define his era in a few years. Fat bass is super awesome. Just wish the piano was clearer.
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| 5.0 classic | random | June 13th 24 |
| 4.5 superb | Araz | June 3rd 23 |
| 4.0 excellent | MvdW | November 19th 22 |
| 4.5 superb | bmelt CONTRIBUTOR | November 9th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Onater | April 26th 19 |
| 5.0 classic | Josh | January 10th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Tb1114 | September 10th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Henry | September 8th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | rjk | December 8th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | BoJean | August 24th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Rodrigo | November 14th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | KaNe00 | October 17th 14 |
| 5.0 classic | Ovi | May 19th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | gelud | April 9th 13 |
| 5.0 classic | mcglat | September 14th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | Lions | August 26th 11 |
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