Lush Life (John Coltrane album)
1961 studio album by John Coltrane
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Lush Life is a studio album by the jazz musician John Coltrane. It was released in early 1961 by 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.
- May 31, 1957
- August 16, 1957
- January 10, 1958
| Lush Life | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February or March 1961[1][2] | |||
| Recorded |
| |||
| Studio | Van Gelder Studio Hackensack, New Jersey | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 36:39 | |||
| Label | Prestige PRLP 7188[3] | |||
| Producer | Bob Weinstock | |||
| John Coltrane chronology | ||||
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Reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Absolute Sound |   [4] |
| AllMusic | [5] |
| DownBeat | [3] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz | [6] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [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
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Date recorded | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Like Someone in Love" | Jimmy Van Heusen | August 16, 1957 | 5:00 |
| 2. | "I Love You" | Cole Porter | August 16, 1957 | 5:33 |
| 3. | "Trane's Slow Blues" | John Coltrane | August 16, 1957 | 6:05 |
| Total length: | 16:38 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Date recorded | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lush Life" | Billy Strayhorn | January 10, 1958 | 14:00 |
| 2. | "I Hear a Rhapsody" |
| May 31, 1957 | 6:01 |
| Total length: | 20:01 36:39 | |||
Personnel
May 31, 1957 ("I Hear a Rhapsody")
- John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
- Red Garland – piano
- Paul Chambers – bass
- Albert Heath – drums
August 16, 1957 (Side one)
- John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
- Earl May – bass
- Art Taylor – drums
January 10, 1958 ("Lush Life")
- John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
- Donald Byrd – trumpet
- Red Garland – piano
- Paul Chambers – bass
- Louis Hayes – drums
See also
- John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (1963) includes a version of the Strayhorn song 'Lush Life' with Johnny Hartman's vocal.