The Classic Quartet: The Complete Impulse! Recordings
Encyclopedia
The Classic Quartet – The Complete Impulse! Recordings is a 1998 box set by jazz
musician John Coltrane
.
(The LP each song originally appeared on is listed in parentheses)
Disc 1
Disc 2
Disc 3
Disc 4
Disc 5
Disc 6
Disc 7
Disc 8
The Classic Quartet:
Additional Performers:
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musician John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
.
Albums covered
Coltrane’s classic quartet recorded 11 albums for Impulse!:- BalladsBallads (John Coltrane album)Ballads is a jazz album by the John Coltrane Quartet. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released on the Impulse! label in 1963 as A-32 and later AS-32 . Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before...
(1962) - ColtraneColtrane (Impulse! album)Coltrane is a 1962 studio album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. When reissued on CD, it featured a Coltrane composition dedicated to his hero "Big Nick" Nicholas which Coltrane would record later the same year with his Ellington collaboration Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.- Track listing...
(1962) - Live at BirdlandLive at BirdlandLive at Birdland is a 1963 album by jazz musician John Coltrane. Despite its title, only the first three tracks were recorded live at the Birdland club, the rest were studio tracks. Among the studio tracks is "Alabama" a tribute to four children killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing,...
(1963) - CrescentCrescent (John Coltrane)Crescent is a 1964 studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released by Impulse! as A-66. It features his jazz quartet group of McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones playing all original Coltrane compositions, with the leader playing tenor saxophone exclusively. It is commonly regarded as...
(1964) - A Love SupremeA Love SupremeA Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by John Coltrane's quartet in December 1964 and released by Impulse! Records in February 1965...
(1964) - Living SpaceLiving Space (album)Living Space is an album by jazz musician John Coltrane. Recorded in 1965, it was released posthumously by Impulse! Records on March 10, 1998.-Track listing:# "Living Space" - 10:21# "Untitled Original 90314" - 14:48# "Dusk Dawn" - 10:52...
(1965) - The John Coltrane Quartet PlaysThe John Coltrane Quartet PlaysThe John Coltrane Quartet Plays is a 1965 album by jazz musician John Coltrane.-Track listing:#"Chim Chim Cheree" – 6:58...
(1965) - Transition (1965)
- Sun ShipSun ShipSun Ship is a jazz album recorded on August 26, 1965, by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. The album extended the free jazz ideas of Transition. The relaxed, serene feel of earlier ballads like "Welcome" was transformed into a new style of ballad on "Dearly Beloved" and "Attaining"...
(1965) - First MeditationsFirst MeditationsFirst Meditations is a 1977 album by John Coltrane recorded in 1965. It is a quartet version of a suite Coltrane would record as Meditations two months later with the additions of Pharoah Sanders as a second tenor saxophone and Rashied Ali on drums...
(1965) - To the Beat of a Different DrumTo the Beat of a Different DrumTo the Beat of a Different Drum is a compilation album by jazz musician John Coltrane released posthumously in 1978.-Track listing:#"Dear Old Stockholm" - 10:33#"After the Rain" - 4:07#"One Up One Down" - 15:12#"After the Crescent" - 13:24...
(1965)
Albums missed
Some of the Impulse! albums not included (as they did not cover material by the Classic Quartet but by larger or smaller lineups)- Africa/BrassAfrica/Brass-Personnel:* John Coltrane — soprano and tenor saxophone* Booker Little — trumpet* Freddie Hubbard — trumpet on May 23 session only* Britt Woodman — trombone on June 4 session only* Charles Greenlee — euphonium on May 23 session only...
(1961) - Duke Ellington & John ColtraneDuke Ellington & John ColtraneDuke Ellington & John Coltrane is a jazz album by Duke Ellington and John Coltrane recorded on September 26, 1962 and released in February 1963 on Impulse! Records....
(1962) - John Coltrane and Johnny HartmanJohn Coltrane and Johnny HartmanJohn Coltrane and Johnny Hartman is a 1963 studio album featuring John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.Though Coltrane and Hartman had known each other since their days playing with Dizzy Gillespie's band in the late 1940s , Hartman is the only vocalist with whom the...
(1963) - Ascension (1965)
- Kulu Sé MamaKulu Sé MamaKulu Sé Mama is an album by jazz musician John Coltrane. Recorded during 1965, it was released in early 1967 as Impulse! A-9106 . The title piece and "Selflessness" were recorded in October 1965 and feature a large ensemble including Sanders, Garrett, Butler and Lewis...
(1965) - Interstellar SpaceInterstellar SpaceInterstellar Space was one of the final studio albums recorded by the saxophonist John Coltrane before his death in 1967, originally-released posthumously by Impulse! Records on LP in 1974.-Composition:...
(1967) - ExpressionExpression (album)Expression is an album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. The title track was Coltrane's last studio recording; the rest of the album was recorded at about the same time as Interstellar Space. "To Be" features Coltrane on flute, the only recording he made on the instrument for an entire track...
(1967)
Track listing
- Original CD release The Classic Quartet – The Complete Impulse! Recordings , 1998 (Impulse!)
(The LP each song originally appeared on is listed in parentheses)
Disc 1
- "Greensleeves" (3:41)
- "It's Easy to Remember" (2:45) (BalladsBallads (John Coltrane album)Ballads is a jazz album by the John Coltrane Quartet. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released on the Impulse! label in 1963 as A-32 and later AS-32 . Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before...
) - "The Inch Worm" (6:15) (ColtraneColtrane (Impulse! album)Coltrane is a 1962 studio album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. When reissued on CD, it featured a Coltrane composition dedicated to his hero "Big Nick" Nicholas which Coltrane would record later the same year with his Ellington collaboration Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.- Track listing...
) - "Big Nick" (4:05) (ColtraneColtrane (Impulse! album)Coltrane is a 1962 studio album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. When reissued on CD, it featured a Coltrane composition dedicated to his hero "Big Nick" Nicholas which Coltrane would record later the same year with his Ellington collaboration Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.- Track listing...
) - "Out of This World (14:02) (ColtraneColtrane (Impulse! album)Coltrane is a 1962 studio album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. When reissued on CD, it featured a Coltrane composition dedicated to his hero "Big Nick" Nicholas which Coltrane would record later the same year with his Ellington collaboration Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.- Track listing...
) - "Soul Eyes" (5:23) (ColtraneColtrane (Impulse! album)Coltrane is a 1962 studio album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. When reissued on CD, it featured a Coltrane composition dedicated to his hero "Big Nick" Nicholas which Coltrane would record later the same year with his Ellington collaboration Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.- Track listing...
) - "Miles' Mode" (7:31) (ColtraneColtrane (Impulse! album)Coltrane is a 1962 studio album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. When reissued on CD, it featured a Coltrane composition dedicated to his hero "Big Nick" Nicholas which Coltrane would record later the same year with his Ellington collaboration Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.- Track listing...
) - "Tunji" (6:32) (ColtraneColtrane (Impulse! album)Coltrane is a 1962 studio album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. When reissued on CD, it featured a Coltrane composition dedicated to his hero "Big Nick" Nicholas which Coltrane would record later the same year with his Ellington collaboration Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.- Track listing...
) - "Nancy (with the Laughing Face) (3:10) (BalladsBallads (John Coltrane album)Ballads is a jazz album by the John Coltrane Quartet. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released on the Impulse! label in 1963 as A-32 and later AS-32 . Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before...
) - "What's New?" (3:44) (BalladsBallads (John Coltrane album)Ballads is a jazz album by the John Coltrane Quartet. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released on the Impulse! label in 1963 as A-32 and later AS-32 . Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before...
) - "Up ‘Gainst the Wall" (3:13) (Impressions) and (ColtraneColtrane (Impulse! album)Coltrane is a 1962 studio album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane. When reissued on CD, it featured a Coltrane composition dedicated to his hero "Big Nick" Nicholas which Coltrane would record later the same year with his Ellington collaboration Duke Ellington & John Coltrane.- Track listing...
) - “Too Young to Go Steady" (4:20) (BalladsBallads (John Coltrane album)Ballads is a jazz album by the John Coltrane Quartet. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released on the Impulse! label in 1963 as A-32 and later AS-32 . Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before...
) - “All or Nothing at All" (3:35) (BalladsBallads (John Coltrane album)Ballads is a jazz album by the John Coltrane Quartet. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released on the Impulse! label in 1963 as A-32 and later AS-32 . Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before...
) - I Wish I Knew (4:51) (BalladsBallads (John Coltrane album)Ballads is a jazz album by the John Coltrane Quartet. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released on the Impulse! label in 1963 as A-32 and later AS-32 . Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before...
)
Disc 2
- "You Don't Know What Love Is" (5:12) (BalladsBallads (John Coltrane album)Ballads is a jazz album by the John Coltrane Quartet. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released on the Impulse! label in 1963 as A-32 and later AS-32 . Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before...
) - "Say It (Over and Over Again)" (4:15) (BalladsBallads (John Coltrane album)Ballads is a jazz album by the John Coltrane Quartet. It was recorded in December 1961 and 1962, and released on the Impulse! label in 1963 as A-32 and later AS-32 . Critic Gene Lees stated that the quartet had never played the tunes before...
) - "Vilia" (4:36) (Live at BirdlandLive at BirdlandLive at Birdland is a 1963 album by jazz musician John Coltrane. Despite its title, only the first three tracks were recorded live at the Birdland club, the rest were studio tracks. Among the studio tracks is "Alabama" a tribute to four children killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing,...
) - "After the Rain" (4:09) (Impressions) and (Dear Old Stockholm)
- "Dear Old Stockholm" (10:40) (Dear Old Stockholm)
- "Your Lady" (6:39) (Live at BirdlandLive at BirdlandLive at Birdland is a 1963 album by jazz musician John Coltrane. Despite its title, only the first three tracks were recorded live at the Birdland club, the rest were studio tracks. Among the studio tracks is "Alabama" a tribute to four children killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing,...
) - "Alabama (Take 4&5)" (5:08) (Live at BirdlandLive at BirdlandLive at Birdland is a 1963 album by jazz musician John Coltrane. Despite its title, only the first three tracks were recorded live at the Birdland club, the rest were studio tracks. Among the studio tracks is "Alabama" a tribute to four children killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing,...
) - "Lonnie's Lament" (11:45) (CrescentCrescent (John Coltrane)Crescent is a 1964 studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released by Impulse! as A-66. It features his jazz quartet group of McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones playing all original Coltrane compositions, with the leader playing tenor saxophone exclusively. It is commonly regarded as...
) - "The Drum Thing" (7:22) (CrescentCrescent (John Coltrane)Crescent is a 1964 studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released by Impulse! as A-66. It features his jazz quartet group of McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones playing all original Coltrane compositions, with the leader playing tenor saxophone exclusively. It is commonly regarded as...
) - "Wise One" (9:01) (CrescentCrescent (John Coltrane)Crescent is a 1964 studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released by Impulse! as A-66. It features his jazz quartet group of McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones playing all original Coltrane compositions, with the leader playing tenor saxophone exclusively. It is commonly regarded as...
)
Disc 3
- "Crescent" (8:42) (CrescentCrescent (John Coltrane)Crescent is a 1964 studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released by Impulse! as A-66. It features his jazz quartet group of McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones playing all original Coltrane compositions, with the leader playing tenor saxophone exclusively. It is commonly regarded as...
) - "Bessie's Blues" (3:32) (CrescentCrescent (John Coltrane)Crescent is a 1964 studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released by Impulse! as A-66. It features his jazz quartet group of McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones playing all original Coltrane compositions, with the leader playing tenor saxophone exclusively. It is commonly regarded as...
) - "A Love Supreme, Part I: Acknowledgement" (7:47) (A Love SupremeA Love SupremeA Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by John Coltrane's quartet in December 1964 and released by Impulse! Records in February 1965...
) - "A Love Supreme, Part II: Resolution" (7:22) (A Love SupremeA Love SupremeA Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by John Coltrane's quartet in December 1964 and released by Impulse! Records in February 1965...
) - "A Love Supreme, Part III: Pursuance" (10:45) (A Love SupremeA Love SupremeA Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by John Coltrane's quartet in December 1964 and released by Impulse! Records in February 1965...
) - "A Love Supreme, Part IV: Psalm" (7:05) (A Love SupremeA Love SupremeA Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by John Coltrane's quartet in December 1964 and released by Impulse! Records in February 1965...
) - "Nature Boy (first version)" (7:03)
- "Nature Boy" (8:01) (The John Coltrane Quartet Plays)
- "Feeling Good" (6:22) (The John Coltrane Quartet Plays)
- "Chim Chim Cheree" (6:56) (The John Coltrane Quartet Plays)
Disc 4
- "Brasilia" (12:54) (The John Coltrane Quartet Plays)
- "Song of Praise" (9:51) (The John Coltrane Quartet Plays)
- "After the Crescent" (13:40) (Dear Old Stockholm)
- "Dear Lord" (5:34) (Dear Old Stockholm)
- "One Up One Down" (15:28) (Dear Old Stockholm)
- "Welcome" (5:25) (Transition) and (Kulu Sé MamaKulu Sé MamaKulu Sé Mama is an album by jazz musician John Coltrane. Recorded during 1965, it was released in early 1967 as Impulse! A-9106 . The title piece and "Selflessness" were recorded in October 1965 and feature a large ensemble including Sanders, Garrett, Butler and Lewis...
) - "The Last Blues" (4:22) (Living Space)
Disc 5
- "Untitled Original 90314" (14:45) (Living Space)
- "Transition" (15:27) (Transition)
- "Suite" (21:17) (Transition)
- "Living Space" (10:21) (Living Space)
- "Dusk Dawn" (10:48) (Living Space)
Disc 6
- "Vigil" (9:50) (Transition) and (Kulu Sé MamaKulu Sé MamaKulu Sé Mama is an album by jazz musician John Coltrane. Recorded during 1965, it was released in early 1967 as Impulse! A-9106 . The title piece and "Selflessness" were recorded in October 1965 and feature a large ensemble including Sanders, Garrett, Butler and Lewis...
) - "Untitled Original 90320" (10:44) (Living Space)
- "Dearly Beloved" (6:27) (Sun ShipSun ShipSun Ship is a jazz album recorded on August 26, 1965, by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. The album extended the free jazz ideas of Transition. The relaxed, serene feel of earlier ballads like "Welcome" was transformed into a new style of ballad on "Dearly Beloved" and "Attaining"...
) - "Attaining" (11:24) (Sun ShipSun ShipSun Ship is a jazz album recorded on August 26, 1965, by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. The album extended the free jazz ideas of Transition. The relaxed, serene feel of earlier ballads like "Welcome" was transformed into a new style of ballad on "Dearly Beloved" and "Attaining"...
) - "Sun Ship" (6:12) (Sun ShipSun ShipSun Ship is a jazz album recorded on August 26, 1965, by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. The album extended the free jazz ideas of Transition. The relaxed, serene feel of earlier ballads like "Welcome" was transformed into a new style of ballad on "Dearly Beloved" and "Attaining"...
) - "Ascent" (10:05) (Sun ShipSun ShipSun Ship is a jazz album recorded on August 26, 1965, by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. The album extended the free jazz ideas of Transition. The relaxed, serene feel of earlier ballads like "Welcome" was transformed into a new style of ballad on "Dearly Beloved" and "Attaining"...
) - "Amen" (8:14) (Sun ShipSun ShipSun Ship is a jazz album recorded on August 26, 1965, by tenor saxophonist John Coltrane. The album extended the free jazz ideas of Transition. The relaxed, serene feel of earlier ballads like "Welcome" was transformed into a new style of ballad on "Dearly Beloved" and "Attaining"...
)
Disc 7
- "Love" (8:04) (First MeditationsFirst MeditationsFirst Meditations is a 1977 album by John Coltrane recorded in 1965. It is a quartet version of a suite Coltrane would record as Meditations two months later with the additions of Pharoah Sanders as a second tenor saxophone and Rashied Ali on drums...
) - "Compassion" (9:34) (First MeditationsFirst MeditationsFirst Meditations is a 1977 album by John Coltrane recorded in 1965. It is a quartet version of a suite Coltrane would record as Meditations two months later with the additions of Pharoah Sanders as a second tenor saxophone and Rashied Ali on drums...
) - "Joy" (8:48) (First MeditationsFirst MeditationsFirst Meditations is a 1977 album by John Coltrane recorded in 1965. It is a quartet version of a suite Coltrane would record as Meditations two months later with the additions of Pharoah Sanders as a second tenor saxophone and Rashied Ali on drums...
) - "Consequences" (7:20) (First MeditationsFirst MeditationsFirst Meditations is a 1977 album by John Coltrane recorded in 1965. It is a quartet version of a suite Coltrane would record as Meditations two months later with the additions of Pharoah Sanders as a second tenor saxophone and Rashied Ali on drums...
) - "Serenity" (6:11) (First MeditationsFirst MeditationsFirst Meditations is a 1977 album by John Coltrane recorded in 1965. It is a quartet version of a suite Coltrane would record as Meditations two months later with the additions of Pharoah Sanders as a second tenor saxophone and Rashied Ali on drums...
) - "Joy (second version)" (12:21)
Disc 8
- "Cresent (first version) (10:04)
- "Bessie's Blues (first version – incomplete) (2:58)
- "Song of Praise (first version)" (2:41)
- "A Love Supreme, Part II: Resolution (alternate take)" (7:21)
- "Feeling Good (alternate take)" (6:16)
- "Dear Lord (breakdowns and alternate take)" (7:41)
- "Living Space (breakdown and alternate take)" (14:02)
Personnel
Recorded between 1961 and 1965 in New York City.The Classic Quartet:
- John ColtraneJohn ColtraneJohn William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
— tenor saxophoneTenor saxophoneThe tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
/soprano saxophoneSoprano saxophoneThe soprano saxophone is a variety of the saxophone, a woodwind instrument, invented in 1840. The soprano is the third smallest member of the saxophone family, which consists of the soprillo, sopranino, soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass, contrabass and tubax.A transposing instrument pitched in... - McCoy TynerMcCoy TynerMcCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
— pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal... - Jimmy GarrisonJimmy GarrisonJimmy Garrison was an American jazz double bassist born in Miami, Florida. He was best known through his long association with John Coltrane from 1961–1967.-Biography:...
— bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2... - Elvin JonesElvin JonesElvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
— drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(all tracks except To The Beat of a Different Drum recordings)
Additional Performers:
- Art DavisArt DavisArt Davis was a double-bassist, known for his work with various seminal jazz musicians including Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Dizzy Gillespie, and Max Roach.-Biography:...
— bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
(only appears on disc 3: tracks 7,8,9) - Roy HaynesRoy HaynesRoy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz...
— drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(only appears on disc 4: tracks 3,4,5)