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John Coltrane - Blue Train (Blue Note, 1957) jazz





It is considered by many to be Coltrane"s first "true" solo album, as it is the first he recorded featuring musicians and songs entirely of his choosing. All of the compositions were written by Coltrane, save one ("I"m Old Fashioned", a Jerome Kern/Johnny Mercer standard). The title track is a long, rhythmically variegated blues with a brooding minor theme that gradually shifts to major during Coltrane"s first chorus. "Locomotion" is also a blues riff tune. Elsewhere, whereas Coltrane"s next major LP, Giant Steps, would break new melodic and harmonic ground in jazz, Blue Train adheres to the hard bop style of the era. That being said, two of its tunes, "Moment"s Notice" and "Lazy Bird" do anticipate the "Coltrane changes" he would later develop. (Musicologist Lewis Porter has also demonstrated a harmonic relationship between Coltrane"s "Lazy Bird" and Tadd Dameron"s "Lady Bird".

Personnel:
John Coltrane - Tenor saxophone
Lee Morgan - Trumpet
Curtis Fuller - Trombone
Paul Chambers - Bass
Kenny Drew - Piano
Philly Joe Jones - Drums

Recorded on September 15, 1957.

Track listing:
1. Blue Train ? 10:43
2. Moment"s Notice ? 9:10
3."Locomotio" ? 7:14
4.I"m Old Fashioned ? 7:58
5. Lazy Bird ? 7:00
6. Blue Train (alternate take) ? 9:58
7. Lazy Bird (alternate take) ? 7:12