Capsule review: John Coltrane - Afro blue impressions (1963, 1977 released)

Double disc of 1963 European concert recordings by the great quartet. They blaze through definite readings of 'Lonnie's lament', a short (better than the famous version) 'Chasin' the Trane', and extraordinary 20 minute 'My favorite things' which starts off at the most intense point of the studio version and spirals upwards. Second disc is standard blowing fare and two songs that sounded better at the Village Vanguard. That version of 'My favorite things'!

Capsule review: John Coltrane - Crescent (1964)

Coltrane takes his religious music for a test run. The title track, 'Wise one', 'Lonnie's lament' - it's all there but for finetuning. Everything ends with a drumsolo that feels earned. The follow-up would write history.