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1965 John Coltrane Recordings Part Two

 Knowing that 1965 was such a transformational year for John Coltrane, the one when he evolved from his "Classic Quartet", experimenting with some of the younger, more avant-garde musicians in live settings, and in some studio sessions, I decided to post each of thirteen (became fourteen) albums on Instagram that emanated from the 1965 sessions (in recording date order). Not including some other live sessions (mainly on CD). Trane was feeling the need to change by adding other musicians. He was experimenting more than usual, and recording more. The output from 1965 was immense. The second seven records are below, with information on the recording sessions.


#8 in 1965. The Friday following the Monday Ascension session at Van Gelder's, there was a slot for Coltrane and the Quartet at the Newport Jazz Festival. Impulse recorded One Down, One Up and My Favorite Things and also Archie Shepp's afternoon set. The album New Thing at Newport was released early '66 and featured Trane's first number and four by Archie Shepp.

Four days on from the show at Newport, Coltrane had a 12 day engagement at the Village Gate in NYC. No let up !



#9 in 1965. In July Coltrane played dates in NYC and France. At the Festival International du Jazz Antibes-Juan-les-Pins the Quartet played A Love Supreme. The record hadn't been released in France yet, so on the 2nd night Trane reverted to a more recognisable setlist. I also have the 1st night concert on the Complete ALS CD boxset. During a busy August there were more jazz festivals in Belgium, Cincinnati, Chicago, Cleveland and Columbus OH. Also, Ravi Coltrane was born the same month. Trane was moving further into full free jazz territory and was alienating large sections of these festival audiences. On August 26th, the quartet entered RCA Victor Studios in NYC where Dearly Beloved, Attaining, Sun Ship, Ascent and Amen were recorded.

As Bob Thiele said, Trane was moving on so fast, especially in 1965, not everything in the can was released. There wasn't anything inferior, he had just moved on. Sun Ship was released in 1971, comprising takes from the Aug 26th session. Talking about his own legacy at Impulse in 1968, Thiele said he was proud that so much great Coltrane material had been recorded, and could still be released.

The incredible year of 1965 rolls on.



#10 in 1965. On Thursday September 2nd at Englewood Cliffs the Quartet laid down the suite 'Meditations'. In five parts and deeply spiritual in theme (again), Trane's latest composition didn't see the light of day until 'First Meditations' was released in 1977; at least in this version with the 'classic quartet'. At the end of November another more avant-garde version was recorded with additional musicians #pharoahsanders and #rashiedali. The later recording was released in 1966. More on that later. Again, Trane had simply moved on from the first recording.



#11 of 13 in 1965. The John Coltrane Sextet was booked to play the Penthouse in Seattle, WA from September 27th to October 2nd. At 9.30 PM on Sep 30th, the Sextet were live on the radio station KING. Simultaneously, local recording engineer Jan Kurtis taped both sets. The Penthouse pre-advertising said Sextet, so it was planned to have #pharoahsanders and #donaldgarrett participate. By now, cracks were appearing in the 'classic quartet'.



#12 in '65. The day after the Live in Seattle recording, the Sextet plus Joe Brazil travelled to Lynnwood WA to the studio of Jan Kurtis Skugstad. Jan recorded the previous night's performance and persuaded Trane to record at his studio the next day (Camelot Sound Studios). Jan had a decent studio and setup, and the Sextet felt pretty comfortable there. In fact, some would say too comfortable. Om in Hindi is a sacred sound and represents the ultimate spirit and consciousness. Great recording by Jan, one take only and was split into two parts when the album was released in early 1968. Even Bob Thiele's amulet gets a credit on the gatefold .....hah



#13 of now 14 in '65. Nearly missed one out. After the Om session it was off to the It Club in LA for an 11 day residency. During the residency, on the 14th at Western Recorders, Kulu Se Mama (discussed in post #5 earlier) and Selflessness were laid down. Released in 1969 with two live tracks from 1963, Selflessness is another less lauded Trane album, but GR8.



#14 of 14. Following some more club residencies where Trane presented sextet, septet and octet groups, it was back to Van Gelder's Englewood Ciffs studio on 23rd November. Pharoah Sanders on the front line and Rashied Ali doubling up on drums, Trane re-recorded his Meditations suite. A new track, The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost (as originally written) was also recorded. It seemed this was specifically written with Sanders in mind, playing to his strengths and in the direction Trane was heading. It also seemed that Ali's looser rhythmic style was becoming more appropriate for this direction. It would be the last recording session with Jones and Tyner.

The album Meditations would be released during Tranes' lifetime - the more avant-garde of the two 1965 versions.

Part One can be found here

Ref : The John Coltrane Reference, Chris DeVito et al. Other sources.


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