John Coltrane's 1967

I've previously posted the recorded output of John Coltrane in 1965 (1965 Part 1 1965 Part 2) and 1966. 1965 an incredible year of stunning recordings, classic after classic, much of which was issued after his death. Unsurprisingly 1966 less so and 1967 was much more limited, most obviously due to his undiagnosed failing health. He died in July of that year.

I posted four albums on Instagram, comprising his output that year. They're copied below. 

  

1 of 4 in 1967. I've mentioned before that Side 2 of Expression may be my favourite Coltrane LP side. For many reasons.

Recorded in Spring 1967, Expression is the only number we have from this session on an unknown date. Offering is from the 15th Feb session that gave us the great much later released Stellar Regions album. This track from that session was the one agreed with Bob Thiele just before Trane died.

The track To Be on Side 1 was again, recorded on an unknown date in the Spring. Ogunde was recorded on 7th March.

Trane was in the late stages of undiagnosed cancer at this point and I think it is a big part of this music. He talked in the past of his process of getting the music out of his body. Alice must also have known that something was wrong with her husband, and her playing reflects the emotions.

Up until the recording sessions he made in February and March, there was only one known concert early 1967. He played the Cobo Arena in Detroit, MI on January 22nd.

 

2 of 4 in 1967. By recording date. On Feb 15th 1967, the Quartet (without Pharoah Sanders) recorded eight numbers. One of those, Offering, was included on the Expression album in 1967. It took until 1995 for the others, and Offering, to be released as the album Stellar Regions.

The recordings either came from a 1/4" tape copy that had been given to Coltrane after the session. This had been common practice for Trane to listen to at home on his own reel to reel tape machine. OR, it was one of the master tapes that Bob Thiele gave to Alice Coltrane for 'safe keeping' shortly after Trane's death. This is more likely since it's stereo. I'm sure it was mono copies only given to Trane after each session.

At this late stage, Trane's sound had changed from the oftentimes harsher, vibrato-less sound. Deep and sonorous, perhaps he had reached the' beautiful' sound he had wished for in past interviews.

This is the original CD. I've thought before about getting it on vinyl, but it's always been pretty expensive on Discogs, so a bit harder to justify.

 3 of 4 in 1967. When drummer Rashied Ali arrived at Van Gelder's recording studio on Wednesday February 22nd 1967, he expected to see other musicians, not just Trane. Trane had composed for the session, but Ali was unaware what was in store. Some bells, the melody and straight into improvisations.

Ali later said he wished he had time to prepare better, but that's the musician talking. Not the album listeners.

The Penguin Guide to Jazz called it The Final Masterpiece "What is often forgotten is the attention the saxophonist paid to rhythm, and the Impulse! years - from Africa/Brass to Interstellar Space - are very largely devoted to a search for the time beyond time, an uncountable pulse which would represent a pure musical experience not chopped up into bars and choruses."

This is a 1st US vinyl release from 1974. Another incredible issue from much later.

 

 

4 of 4 in 1967. John Coltrane agreed to a benefit gig for the Olatunji Center of African Culture on 125th St in Manhattan, a loft style building, playing in a gymnasium type room. Big enough for a basketball court. There was a line almost round the block for two performances. At 4pm and 6.30 pm. A donation of $3 at the door was expected.

What is lesser known is that towards the end of his life, Trane seriously looked at buying a loft in NYC to create such a performing and recording space.

Trane had organised for a live recording the day before. Bernard Drayton brought his gear from a club and set up in a small adjacent room. As he had arranged a lift/ride back, he only recorded the first session.

This was Coltrane's final recording.

John and Alice Coltrane, Pharoah Sanders, Jimmy Garrison, Rashied Ali and Alfie DeWitt (Bata drum).

Released on CD only in 2001, this is a Japanese reissue from 2021.