"Bar none, John Coltrane is the most influential tenor saxophonist in jazz history. Whether it's his patented "sheets of sound," his rapid-fire improvisations or his bold cathartic wails, no aspiring jazz saxophonist can afford to neglect the music of Coltrane." Jazz Profiles from NPR, John Dilberto.

Ballads - (No two lovers should be without this CD!!)

"When John Coltrane was asked, "Why a ballads album?", he said "Variety." Meaning a change of pace. And perhaps he wanted to apprise those who haven't discovered that he can be lyrical."

"John played the tunes straight, in the in-choruses, unless you count his lovely phrase endings as deviations from melody. When the development occurred, he made his musical points quickly and succinctly. I'd never heard him play this tightly."

- Gene Lees
(Excerpted from the original liner notes for Ballads)

This is a particularly fascinating album, one of my favorites. It's a strong recomendation to anyone's music collection and certainly has it's place on my own Desert Island Jazz list.

It is certainly a departure from some of his more well known works, such masterpieces as "A Love Supreme" or "Blue Trane."

"John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme" is one of the most compelling, spiritual testimonies in the history of jazz." - Rolling Stone Magazine Review.

"Without reservation, Blue Train can easily be considered in and among the most important and influential entries not only of John Coltrane's career, but of the entire genre of jazz music as well." - All Music Guide

This Page is a tribute to the greatest Tenor saxophonist of all time, John William Coltrane (Trane)

Labels: Bay Area Jazz, Desert Island Jazz, Jazz, John Coltrane, San Francisco Jazz, Sax