John Coltrane / Johnny Hartman - John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (1963) [2004 SACD]

John Coltrane’s matchup with singer Johnny Hartman, although quite unexpected, works extremely well. Hartman was in prime form on the six ballads, and his versions of “Lush Life” and “My One and Only Love” have never been topped. Coltrane’s playing throughout the session is beautiful, sympathetic, and still exploratory; he sticks exclusively to tenor on the date. At only half an hour, one wishes there were twice as much music, but what is here is classic, essential for all jazz collections.
Amazon review by Anthony B. Gazzillo:
As a saxophonist, I have been a Coltrane lover for 20 years, & have avoided any vocal contamination of his & other jazz greats’ works. All of that changed when I listened to this album! The polished intensity of Coltrane’s tenor sax blended with the baritone crooning of Johnny Hartman make this 1 of the most romantic albums in jazz (& that is saying something).
Johnny Hartman, while a star in his own right, has never inspired me as much. While, “A Love Supreme,” released a year & a half later in 1965, is arguably Coltrane’s greatest work, “John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman,” is more intimate & at the same time, accessible for the listener. The struggle to describe the radiance of divinity & reverence is replaced by the more tangible themes of a human’s trials & triumphs in love. If you only get 1 album to share with your sweetheart, this is the 1 to get!

Tracks:

01. They Say It's Wonderful (Mono) 05:18
02. Dedicated To You (Mono) 05:32
03. My One And Only Love (Mono) 04:57
04. Lush Life (Mono) 05:30
05. You Are Too Beautiful (Mono) 05:37
06. Autumn Serenade (Mono) 04:19
07. They Say It's Wonderful (Stereo) 05:18
08. Dedicated To You (Stereo) 05:30
09. My One And Only Love (Stereo) 04:55
10. Lush Life (Stereo) 05:27
11. You Are Too Beautiful (Stereo) 05:33
12. Autumn Serenade (Stereo) 04:18

Personnel:

John Coltrane (tenor saxophone)
Johnny Hartman (vocals)
McCoy Tyner (piano)
Jimmy Garrison (bass)
Elvin Jones (drums)

Tracks 7-12 are stereo versions of tracks 1-6. They appear in the same running order.