Coltrane in '61

1961 was an important year for Coltrane. Not only did he release 5 albums within those 12 month's, but it also marks the time when Coltrane was really turning into one of jazz's great institutions. While other albums like Giant Steps and Blue Train really highlight the man's potential, it was in this year that things really started to come together. While I'm not saying that this was when Coltrane hit his stride (that would still be a few years away) this was the year when the man began to push his art form into undiscovered territory. If '66 and '67 was when Coltrane had reached the summit, then '61 certainly must be when he reached the base camp.

While it is important to note that '61 does not highlight the best of the classic Coltrane Quartet, but it does mark a time of great discovery and learning that can really be heard in his live performances more than the albums. It seems as though Coltrane was still holding back a bit on his recordings, but let the lion roar in front of his audiences. Gone is the bittersweet melancholy that he played with Miles and in comes the vast spirituality and endless searching that has come to typify the man and his music.

1961 certainly was a great year for music and thankfully we have videos such as these that capture that man in his early stages of a great body of work and spiritual discovery.



EDJ