Lush Life (John Coltrane album)

Last updated
Lush Life
John Coltrane - Lush Life.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary or March 1961 [1] [2]
Recorded
  • May 31, 1957
  • August 16, 1957
  • January 10, 1958
Studio Van Gelder Studio
Hackensack, New Jersey
Genre Jazz
Length36:39
Label Prestige
PRLP 7188 [3]
Producer Bob Weinstock
John Coltrane chronology
Coltrane Jazz
(1961)
Lush Life
(1961)
My Favorite Things
(1961)

Lush Life is a studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane. It was released in early 1961 through Prestige Records. [2] [1] It was assembled from previously unissued tracks from three recording sessions at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1957 and 1958. As Coltrane's profile increased during the 1960s, some years after the end of his Prestige contract, the label used unissued recordings to create new albums without Coltrane's input or approval.

Contents

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Absolute Sound Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [4]
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [5]
DownBeat Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [3]
The Penguin Guide to Jazz Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [7]

In a review for AllMusic, Lindsay Planer called the album "among John Coltrane's best endeavors on the Prestige label," and praised the title track, stating that "it is rightfully considered as one of Coltrane's unqualified masterworks," and commenting: "Coltrane handles the tune's delicate complexities with infinite style and finesse. Garland similarly sparkles at the 88s, while Byrd's solo offers a bit of a tonal alternative." [5]

DownBeat's Dave Cantor also singled out the title track for praise, stating that it "punctuates the bandleader's ability to transcend time and place," with Coltrane "display[ing] an ability to synthesize the tune's lyrical content while still personalizing its message." [8]

Regarding the trio tracks, the authors of The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings noted that bassist Earl May "is too anonymous a player to go the extra yard required for this exacting discipline," and warned that "there are unexpected inconsistencies of register and articulation in Coltrane's own performances." [6]

David Rickert of All About Jazz stated that the album "is as good a place as any to start exploring the early days of Trane," and commented: "the record documents Coltrane's rapid growth over a short period of time while also showcasing how great a talent Coltrane was, even at this early stage." [9]

In an article for The Absolute Sound , Wayne Garcia described the album as "consistently fabulous," and remarked: "The sound is exceptionally detailed, present, and airy, with gorgeously rich instrumental tones and textures, excellent dynamic scaling, and a notable lack of groove noise that brings these performances to goose bump-raising life." [4]

Flophouse Magazine's François van de Linde wrote: "Prestige didn't have the decency to consult Coltrane in the matters of organising a record release. However, as both a longtime Coltrane fan and vinyl freak, I'm glad those 'crumbs' of Coltrane saw the light of day in 1961." [10]

Matt Fripp of JazzFuel stated that the album "documents a pivotal point in [Coltrane's] development," and commented: "Whilst it may have been an exercise in money-making from the label... it is still a highly valuable and exciting insight into the career of a jazz great... an essential addition to any Coltrane collection." [11]

Track listing

Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Date recordedLength
1."Like Someone in Love" Jimmy Van Heusen May 31, 19575:00
2."I Love You" Cole Porter May 31, 19575:33
3."Trane's Slow Blues"John ColtraneMay 31, 19576:05
Total length:16:38
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Date recordedLength
1."Lush Life" Billy Strayhorn January 10, 195814:00
2."I Hear a Rhapsody"May 31, 19576:01
Total length:20:01 36:39

Personnel

May 31, 1957 ("I Hear a Rhapsody")

August 16, 1957 (Side one)

January 10, 1958 ("Lush Life")

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet</i> 1956 studio album by Miles Davis

Miles: The New Miles Davis Quintet is a studio album by jazz musician Miles Davis which was released in April 1956 through Prestige Records. It is the debut record by the Miles Davis Quintet, and generally known by the original title Miles as indicated on the cover.

<i>John Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio</i> 1958 studio album by John Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio

John Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio is the third studio album by jazz musician John Coltrane. It was released in early 1958 through Prestige Records. The recording took place in Rudy Van Gelder's home studio on August 23, 1957.

<i>Coltranes Sound</i> 1964 studio album by John Coltrane

Coltrane's Sound is an album credited to jazz musician John Coltrane, recorded in 1960 and released in 1964 on Atlantic Records, catalogue SD 1419. It was recorded at Atlantic Studios during the sessions for My Favorite Things, assembled after Coltrane had stopped recording for the label and was under contract to Impulse! Records. Like Prestige and Blue Note Records before them, as Coltrane's fame grew during the 1960s Atlantic used unissued recordings and released them without either Coltrane's input or approval.

<i>Bags & Trane</i> 1961 studio album by Milt Jackson and John Coltrane

Bags & Trane is an album credited to jazz musicians Milt Jackson and John Coltrane, released in 1961 on Atlantic Records, catalogue SD 1368. Taking its title from Jackson and Coltrane's nicknames, it is the only collaborative record by the two, although only Jackson contributed original compositions. In actuality, the album belongs in Jackson's discography, as he was the session leader and still signed to Atlantic under the auspices of the Modern Jazz Quartet, and not in that of Coltrane, who had left the label for Impulse Records at the time of this album's first issue. However, like Prestige Records, as Coltrane's profile grew after he had stopped recording for the label, Atlantic released them with Coltrane's name more prominently displayed.

<i>John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman</i> 1963 studio album by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman

John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman is a studio album by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman which was released by Impulse! Records in July or August 1963. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.

<i>The Last Trane</i> 1966 studio album by John Coltrane

The Last Trane is an album credited to jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1966 on Prestige Records, catalogue 7378.

<i>The Believer</i> (John Coltrane album) 1964 studio album by John Coltrane

The Believer is a jazz album by John Coltrane released in 1964 on Prestige Records, catalogue 7292. It was recorded by Rudy Van Gelder in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1957 and 1958.

<i>Settin the Pace</i> 1961 studio album by John Coltrane

Settin' the Pace is a studio album by jazz musician and composer John Coltrane. It was released in December 1961 through Prestige Records. It is assembled from previously unissued tracks from a recording session at the studio of Rudy Van Gelder in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1958. Coltrane on tenor saxophone is accompanied by Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. With Garland and Chambers, Coltrane had played together since at least October 1955 in Miles Davis' band. With Art Taylor they were part of the Tenor Conclave recordings in September 1956. As a quartet they had already recorded two albums for Prestige, John Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio and Soultrane. The material the quartet recorded on this session were extended interpretations of three popular songs and "Little Melonae", a classic bebop tune written by Jackie McLean. Of note is Coltrane's use of the sheets of sound technique, particularly on "Little Melonae".

<i>Black Pearls</i> 1964 studio album by John Coltrane

Black Pearls is a studio album by American jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1964 on Prestige Records. It was recorded at a single recording session on May 23, 1958, at the studio of Rudy Van Gelder in Hackensack, New Jersey.

<i>Standard Coltrane</i> 1962 studio album by John Coltrane

Standard Coltrane is an album by jazz musician and composer John Coltrane. It was released in October 1962 by Prestige Records. It was recorded at a single recording session at the studio of Rudy Van Gelder in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 1958. This album was rereleased in 1970 as The Master with that version rereleased on CD to include the other four tunes recorded at the same 11 July session. Those other tunes had previously been released on two other albums assembled from unissued recordings.

<i>Bahia</i> (album) 1965 studio album by John Coltrane

Bahia is an album by jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1965 on Prestige Records, catalogue 7353. It was recorded at two sessions at the studio of Rudy Van Gelder in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1958. Prestige drew on a stockpile of Coltrane material for several years after his contract had ended without the saxophonist's input.

<i>Stardust</i> (John Coltrane album) 1963 studio album by John Coltrane

Stardust is an album by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane released in July 1963 by Prestige Records. It was assembled from two separate 1958 recording sessions at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, New Jersey.

<i>Tranes Blues</i> 1999 compilation album by John Coltrane

Trane's Blues is a compact disc credited to the jazz musician John Coltrane, released in 1999 on Blue Note Records, catalogue 98240. It comprises recordings from sessions for Blue Note and United Artists Records with Coltrane as a sideman for Paul Chambers, Sonny Clark, Johnny Griffin, and Cecil Taylor. These recordings were issued respectively on their Whims of Chambers, Sonny's Crib, A Blowin' Session, and Hard Driving Jazz albums. Two selections are from Coltrane's own 1957 Blue Train, and "One for Four" had been previously unissued. "Trane's Blues" had been issued on the compilation High Step in 1975, previously known as "John Paul Jones" and named after himself, the bass player Chambers, and the drummer Philly Joe Jones. Like Prestige Records before them, as Coltrane's fame grew long after he had stopped recording for the label, Blue Note used varied recordings, often those where Coltrane had been merely a sideman, and reissued them as a new album with Coltrane's name prominently displayed. In this case, the Big Four conglomerate EMI continued that earlier practice.

<i>The Cats</i> (album) 1959 studio album by Tommy Flanagan

The Cats is an album by jazz pianist Tommy Flanagan recorded on April 18, 1957 and released in December 1959 on New Jazz, a subsidiary label of Prestige Records. It is credited to Flanagan, saxophonist John Coltrane, guitarist Kenny Burrell, and trumpeter Idrees Sulieman. It was issued after Coltrane's Prestige contract had ended.

<i>Tenor Madness</i> 1956 studio album by Sonny Rollins

Tenor Madness is an album by jazz musician Sonny Rollins released in October 1956 by Prestige Records. It is most notable for its title track, the only known recording featuring both Rollins and John Coltrane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miles Davis Quintet</span> Jazz band led by Miles Davis

The Miles Davis Quintet was an American jazz band from 1955 to early 1969 led by Miles Davis. The quintet underwent frequent personnel changes toward its metamorphosis into a different ensemble in 1969. Most references pertain to two distinct and relatively stable bands: the First Great Quintet from 1955 to 1959, and the Second Great Quintet from late 1964 to early 1969, Davis being the only constant throughout.

<i>Dig It!</i> 1962 studio album by The Red Garland Quintet with John Coltrane

Dig It! is a jazz album by The Red Garland Quintet, recorded in 1957 and 1958 but not released on the Prestige label as PRLP 7229 until 1962.

<i>Taylors Wailers</i> 1957 studio album by Art Taylor

Taylor's Wailers is the debut album by drummer Art Taylor, released in 1957 on Prestige. It features tracks recorded mainly on February 25, 1957 plus a track from a different session featuring John Coltrane on saxophone.

<i>Soul Junction</i> 1960 studio album by The Red Garland Quintet

Soul Junction is an album by jazz pianist and composer Red Garland. It was released in 1960 through Prestige Records. It features tracks recorded on November 15, 1957, the same day the pieces for All Mornin' Long were recorded, with the same lineup.

<i>High Pressure</i> (album) 1961 studio album by The Red Garland Quintet with John Coltrane

High Pressure is an album by jazz pianist Red Garland, recorded in 1957 but not released until 1961 on Prestige Records.

References

  1. 1 2 "Feb. Album Releases" (PDF). The Cash Box . New York: The Cash Box Publishing Co. February 18, 1961. Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  2. 1 2 DeVito, Chris; Fujioka, Yasuhiro; Schmaler, Wolf; Wild, David (2013). Porter, Lewis (ed.). The John Coltrane Reference. New York/Abingdon: Routledge. p. 503. ISBN   9780415634632 . Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  3. 1 2 Kofsky, Frank (May 11, 1961). "John Coltrane - Lush Life". DownBeat . Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  4. 1 2 Garcia, Wayne (April 16, 2021). "John Coltrane: Lush Life". The Absolute Sound. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  5. 1 2 Lush Life at AllMusic
  6. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 284. ISBN   978-0-141-03401-0.
  7. Swenson, J., ed. (1985). The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide . USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. pp.  46. ISBN   0-394-72643-X.
  8. Cantor, Dave (March 2021). "John Coltrane: Lush Life". DownBeat. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  9. Rickert, David (November 6, 2002). "John Coltrane: Lush Life". All About Jazz. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  10. van de Linde, François (August 26, 2014). "John Coltrane Lush Life (Prestige 1957/58/1961)". Flophouse Magazine. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
  11. Fripp, Matt (March 11, 2023). "John Coltrane Lush Life (Inside The Classic Album)". JazzFuel. Retrieved July 17, 2023.