John Coltrane: Lush Life (Original Jazz Classics) [PRESTIGE / CRAFT]

Why you'll love it

Lush Life catches Coltrane on the cusp of greatness, with Red Garland, Paul Chambers and Art Taylor, and his reading of Billy Strayhorn's title song is one of his most beautiful ballads.

This edition

• Original Jazz Classics series
• Recorded at Van Gelder Studio
• Prestige / Craft pressing

About the album

Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack in 1957 and 1958, the sessions on Lush Life find John Coltrane developing the "sheets of sound" style that would soon make him a legend. Three of the tracks are pianoless trios with Earl May and Art Taylor, which lets his tenor sing out with remarkable freedom.

"Like Someone in Love" and "I Love You" swing with ease, "Trane's Slow Blues" stretches out beautifully, and the fourteen-minute "Lush Life," with Red Garland, Paul Chambers and trumpeter Donald Byrd, is a gorgeous slow burn.

Also at Kops: more John Coltrane on vinyl · browse Classic Jazz

Tracklist

Listen

On Prestige / Craft, an Original Jazz Classics reissue of the 1961 album.