Ultimate audiophile Prestige reissues from Analogue Productions. Some of the most collectible, rarest and best sounding Rudy Van Gelder recordings ever made. All cut from the Analog Original Master Tapes by Kevin Gray. Pressed on 180 gram vinyl at state-of-the-art plant Quality Record Pressings and plated by Gary Salstrom. Tip-on covers on thick cardboard stock.

• Limited Edition
• Analogue Productions Prestige Mono Series
• 180 Grams Audiophile Vinyl
• Mastered by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio
• Cut from Original Analog Mono Master Tapes
• Plated by Gary Salstrom
• Pressed at Quality Record Pressings (QRP USA)
• Deluxe high-gloss tip-on album cover

"Another fine-sounding Prestige mono, Coltrane crackles with spontaneous intensity. Al Heath's drum triplets spark "Bakai," as Coltrane's throaty tenor introduces the repetitive, Arabic-influenced theme. "Violets For Your Furs" is sort of precursor to Coltrane's fine Ballads album (1963), whlle a string of mostly up-tempo tunes follow." — Wayne Garcia, The Absolute Sound

John Coltrane, is in a sense, as Ira Gitler wrote in the liner notes to Coltrane’s 1957 self-titled album — featuring his first session as a band leader — a new star, "but he has not arrived through high-pressure press agentry. He has been building on more solid ground."

From the time of his joining the Miles Davis quintet in late 1955 through to his brilliant work with Thelonious Monk at the Five Spot Cafe in the summer of 1957, Coltrane steadily increased his accomplishments on his instrument and gained new admirers for his playing among his fellow musicians and the serious listening public. For this date Coltrane chose his musicians, he contributed several compositions and he also wrote some of the arrangements.

"Bakai" (meaning "cry" in Arabic), by Cal Massey, opens side one. Its handsome minor theme is expounded by pianist Red Garland, Coltrane (who’s horn really cries), and baritone saxophonist Sahib Shihab. The rest of side one is handled by the quartet featuring Coltrane and Garland. Two ballad standards, "Violet for Your Furs," and "Time Was," are the subjects; the former receives a sensitive ballad treatment while the latter is done in bright medium time.

Side two opens on "Straight Street," a Coltrane composition and arrangement featuring solos by Coltrane, trumpeter Johnnie Splawn and pianist Mal Waldron. An interestingly different Coltrane interpretation of the seldom-done "While My Lady Sleeps" is Coltrane’s alone until Splawn joins him for a final errie note. Coltrane’s "Chronic Blues" is the closer and gives all the horns and Waldron solo room.

Musicians:

John Coltrane, tenor sax
Johnnie Splawn, trumpet
Sahib Shihab, baritone sax
Red Garland, piano
Mal Waldron, piano
Paul Chambers, bass
Albert "Tootie" Heath, drums

Track Listing:

1. Bakai
2. Violets For Your Furs
3. Time Was
4. Straight Street
5. While My Lady Sleeps
6. Chronic Blues

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫