John Coltrane - My Favorite Things (1961) [2013 SACD]

"My Favorite Things is the seventh album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1961 on Atlantic Records. It was the first album to feature Coltrane playing soprano saxophone, and yielded a commercial breakthrough in the form of a hit single that gained popularity in 1961 on radio, an edited version of the title song, "My Favorite Things." In 1998, the album was a recipient of the Grammy Hall of Fame award.

My Favorite Things is an album which marked a change in Coltrane’s style and delivery. The fact that it’s an album of his interpretations of a collection of brilliant jazz standards allowed listeners to really focus on his skill as arranger and performer, and I like to think that’s exactly what happened. After his stint playing with Miles Davis this game changing release in 1961 showed just how much Coltrane had taken on from his time under the tutelage of a true master.

Opening with the timeless titular track, "My Favourite Things" creates a dreamy soundtrack, and this relaxed interpretation of a standard is one of the many reasons this album is so treasured, why it’s held in such high esteem. Elvin Jones’ chilled shuffle rolls underneath the band like a tremulous prelude to an inconceivable storm, whilst Steve Davis’ insistent drone somehow creates a miasma of pressure. McCoy Tyner’s work flowing in and out of the foreground of the piece just completes the seductive mystery of this piece. Coltrane himself takes a different tact than that of his earlier work. The obvious switch to soprano saxophone itself is something, affording himself the opportunity to float more readily on top of the hypnotic groove, Coltrane not only lets loose on this track he well and truly brings his A game.

His take on "Summertime" is not to be taken lightly, Coltrane’s foray into the sketchy world of modal jazz is powerfully free. The former boasts perfectly executed switches between bop and shifting ethnic groove, whilst the latter brings more sensual layers with its subtle horn parts. These are pieces in which the rhythm section truly takes control. Coltrane picked his players with a proficiency which is frankly expert. "But Not For Me" takes it away from the experimental and gives some solid bebop whilst serving as a beautiful interlude. Whilst Coltrane playing the soprano is a treat, I’ll always love his dexterity with the tenor; it’s just truly his domain."

"I picked this album because to jazz players, it’s a milestone, a brilliant homage to the players who had gone before, but also an exciting glimpse of what was to come,. With the inclusion of some solidly brilliant arrangements of great tunes, it well and truly placed Coltrane amongst those true greats." (www.therealmusic.net)

"...my favorite piece of all those I've recorded. I don't think I'd like to do it over in any way." (John Coltrane, 1962)

"This set is a valuable part of the extraordinary musical and spiritual history of a creator who accomplished a stunning amount in so short a life." (Nat Hentoff)


Tracks:

01. My Favorite Things
Written-By – Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein
02. Everytime We Say Goodbye
Written-By – Cole Porter
03. Summertime
Written-By – Du Bose Heyward, George Gershwin
04. But Not For Me
Written-By – George & Ira Gershwin

Personnel:

Bass – Steve Davis
Drums – Elvin Jones
Piano – McCoy Tyner
Soprano Saxophone – John Coltrane (tracks: 1, 2)
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane (tracks: 3, 4)