Tonight's Blue Note: John Coltrane - Blue Train

Lee Morgan (trumpet); Curtis Fuller (trombone); John Coltrane (tenor sax); Kenny Drew (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); "Philly" Joe Jones (drums).

(By Lance).

Trane's only Blue Note recording is another album that must be in every jammer's collection as both the title track and Moments Notice are another two tunes (both originals by Trane) that crop up regularly at the Black Swan jams. 

This was the tenor player at his finest before he moved, via Kind of Blue, towards a more 'spiritual' destination. Listen to his ballad reading of I'm Old Fashioned.

Alongside him, and holding their own, in the front line Lee Morgan and Curtis Fuller were equally outstanding. That Morgan died so young was as big a tragedy as Bix earlier and Wallace Roney only a couple of days ago. Fuller, had all the dexterity of Jay Jay and a slightly warmer tone.

Kenny Drew plays piano with the same skill and inventiveness of a similarly named local photographer - I've waited years to pair the two in a review! Chambers, who was also on last night's Blue Note album, solos both with and without the bow whilst Philly Joe was as good as any of the drummers of the day (Sept. 15, 1957) or any other day come to that.

I think this is my all time favourite album by John Coltrane...
Lance