John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, really setting fire here in a classic live performance from the mid 60s – one of those very long, open-ended concert dates that was arguably even more impressive than some of Coltrane's studio album! The set was recorded in 1965, but not issued until a few years after Coltrane's death – and it's an amazing representation of the bold steps forward that Trane was taking at the time – working with Sanders in a set of very spiritual expressions that run in these out, open ways that are even different from the Coltrane sound of the year before! The group still features McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – often hanging onto modal rhythms at the start, then dropping back once the horns open up – and Don Raphael Garrett plays bass clarinet, bringing a bit of Dolphy flavor to the set. Titles include "Tapestry In Sound", "Out Of This World", "Evolution", and "Cosmos". LP, Vinyl record album

John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders, really setting fire here in a classic live performance from the mid 60s – one of those very long, open-ended concert dates that was arguably even more impressive than some of Coltrane's studio album! The set was recorded in 1965, but not issued until a few years after Coltrane's death – and it's an amazing representation of the bold steps forward that Trane was taking at the time – working with Sanders in a set of very spiritual expressions that run in these out, open ways that are even different from the Coltrane sound of the year before! The group still features McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – often hanging onto modal rhythms at the start, then dropping back once the horns open up – and Don Raphael Garrett plays bass clarinet, bringing a bit of Dolphy flavor to the set. Titles include "Tapestry In Sound", "Out Of This World", "Evolution", and "Cosmos". CD

Early work by Alice Coltrane – somewhat under the shadow of her late husband, as you'd guess from the use of his name on the front cover – but really stepping out here with a voice of her own! The Monastic Trio of the set features Alice on harp and piano – alongside bass from Jimmy Garrison and drums by either Ben Riley or Rashied Ali – both really fluid players who open up nicely in this way that's never to far out, at least in the way that John Coltrane was using rhythms at the time – but which allow Alice to really take the lead as a bold musical visionary of her own! Perhaps most exciting, Pharoah Sanders sits in on one of the album's longest tracks – blowing tenor with a force that's enough to bring back The Great One – but the real charm of the set is Alice's piano work, bubbling out here with a sensitivity that we never would have expected from the harder-edge sessions cut with Coltrane – that new level of spirituality she instantly brought to her own solo sessions. Titles include "Ohnedaruth", "Lovely Sky Boat", and "Atomic Peace". LP, Vinyl record album

One of our favorite albums ever from John Coltrane – but a record that's sometimes eclipsed by the genius of A Love Supreme! The feel here is very similar to that one – long tracks that introduce a new mode of searching, spiritual jazz for the 60s – one that's performed by a core quintet with Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones – but which also features added players on the side-long title track! "Kulu Se Mama" is a tremendously bold statement in music – one that features a bit of spiritual vocals from Juno Lewis, plus added bass clarinet from Donald Garrett, tenor from Pharoah Sanders, and drums from Frank Butler. The two other tracks – "Vigil" and "Welcome" – are performed by a quartet, but are still equally great! LP, Vinyl record album

A fantastic addition to the John Coltrane catalog, and a set that's wonderful for so many different reasons it's hard to fit them all in one short passage! As the title implies, the album features a rare live performance of "Love Supreme" – done in 1965, when the work was new both to the world, and the classic Coltrane quartet with McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. Yet the version here is also very different than the album reading – looser, with more "interlude" passages – at a level that already has the group drinking in the spirit of the tune, and finding a way to rise with a new spiritual majesty! Another key part of the recording is the presence of Pharoah Sanders on tenor – making a very early appearance with the group – amidst a septet lineup that also features a very young Carlos Ward on alto, and Donald Rafael Garrett on bass – players who expand the lineup in ways that show some of Coltrane's growing experiments past the quartet structure. The whole thing was recorded at the Penthouse Club in Seattle – a place that's given us some other fantastic "lost" recordings from the 60s in recent years – and the record is essential listening, even if you own the studio Love Supreme record, or any other Coltrane records at all. LP, Vinyl record album

One of the first moments of genius from a young Pharoah Sanders – a set that builds on the energy of John Coltrane's Love Supreme generation – but takes it in a much more expansive direction! The album's got a sense of majesty that's years ahead of its time – righteous, positive, spiritual jazz that flows out with a timeless power, and a quality that almost out-Coltrane's Coltrane! All tracks are long, expressive, and freely flowing – building with a very organic sense of energy – totally free from any gimmicks or cliche. Players include Dave Burrell on piano, Henry Grimes on bass, and Sonny Sharrock on guitar – and Pharoah plays alto, tenor, and piccolo – and even vocalizes a bit. The album begins with the amazing "Upper & Lower Egypt" – which is a perfect illustration of the two sides of Pharoah's genius – free/out & spiritual/modal – and other titles include "Japan", and "Capricorn Rising". LP, Vinyl record album

The John Coltrane sound stretching out to Infinity – beautifully collaborating core spiritual sounds recorded when The Great One was still alive, and later string passages done by Alice Coltrane in the early 70s! The initial tracks are very open and almost easygoing – not the full-on outside expressions of some other Coltrane unreleased sides from the time, but the more cosmic sound of Love Supreme – carried out by musicians that include Alice Coltrane on harp, piano, and organ – plus Pharoah Sanders on tenor, McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison and Charlie Haden on bass, Rashied Ali on percussion, and Elvin Jones on drums. The strings are surprisingly wonderful, too – kind of linking the Coltrane and post-Coltrane generations in ways that are really marvelous, and filled with the kind of majesty that Coltrane should have deserved while still on this planet! Titles include "Living Space", "Joy", "Leo", and "Peace On Earth". CD

John Coltrane returns to the Village Vanguard – but his sound here is a lot more far-reaching than a few years before! The album's a great counterpart to the first Vanguard session – as it takes all of the bold, soaring energy of that date, and balances it with the newly introspective sound of the later Coltrane years – plus some of the freedoms learned from the Love Supreme era. The group here showcases the new territory explored by Coltrane – with Trane himself on tenor, soprano, and a bit of bass clarinet (echoing earlier Dolphy), plus Pharoah Sanders on additional tenor, Alice Coltrane on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Rasheid Ali on drums. The album only features 2 long tracks – an incredibly soulful version of "Naima", and a very firey version of "My Favorite Things", but one that begins with a haunting bass solo by Garrison! CD

An album that's quite different than you might expect from the title – one of the most adventurous records issued on Impulse during the life of John Coltrane! The tracks here are all quite free and far-reaching – hardly the mellow "meditations you might expect – and more the new unbridled sense of energy that Trane was letting loose in the post-Love Supreme years. The group here features some tremendous tenor from Pharoah Sanders – joining the core lineup of McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – who himself is inspired to new heights by the addition of Rashied Ali as a second drummer. The work has a searing emotive quality that goes beyond most that Coltrane had recorded before this point – and titles include the classic "The Father The Son & The Holy Ghost", plus "Love", "Consequences", "Serenity", and "Compassion". CD

An album that's quite different than you might expect from the title – one of the most adventurous records issued on Impulse during the life of John Coltrane! The tracks here are all quite free and far-reaching – hardly the mellow "meditations you might expect – and more the new unbridled sense of energy that Trane was letting loose in the post-Love Supreme years. The group here features some tremendous tenor from Pharoah Sanders – joining the core lineup of McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – who himself is inspired to new heights by the addition of Rashied Ali as a second drummer. The work has a searing emotive quality that goes beyond most that Coltrane had recorded before this point – and titles include the classic "The Father The Son & The Holy Ghost", plus "Love", "Consequences", "Serenity", and "Compassion". CD

The last concert ever played by the great John Coltrane – and, as with some of his other recordings from 1967, a record that really shows the Great One stepping out into some territory we would have loved him to explore more, had he not left our world too soon! The group here has tremendous tenor from Pharoah Sanders – alongside work from Alice Coltrane on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums – joined by the more obscure Algie DeWitt, who plays bata drum on the session – alongside other percussion work that's been credited to Jumma Santos. The setting is the African Culture Center in New York, headed by percussionist Olatunji – which makes the added percussion even more important for the recording – and the set features a short introduction by Billy Taylor, and 2 long tracks: "Ogunde" and "My Favorite Things". CD

A pure statement of being and essence – and one of John Coltrane's spiritual masterpieces from the 60s! The 1965 recording was one of Trane's most adventurous so far – as it featured just one album-length track, building up out of relatively free expressions from Coltrane in the studio – initially in the spirit of Love Supreme, but much sharper-edged and unbridled overall – as if the meditative spirit of the previous recording had unlocked a sense of freedom that refused to be tied down to simple structures! The group is great – and features Pharoah Sanders on tenor, Donald Garrett on bass clarinet, McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – plus a bit of flute and percussion from Joe Brazil. The playing is much freer than on other albums of the time, but also has some introspective spiritual moments – clearly inspired by the Love Supreme recording, but taken a shade outside as well! CD

A fantastically soulful set from Pharoah – recorded in the early 80s, with his quartet that included Idris Muhammad on drums, John Heard on bass, and William Henderson on piano. The session is live, and the overall feel is easy and mellow – still searching, as in the best mode of Pharoah's work for Impulse, but with a warmer approach that shows him mellowing a bit with age – or as we might put it, figuring out the best aspects of his style, and focusing on those. Includes the sublime "Heart Is A Melody Of Time", a great vocal number that builds in a "Creator Has A Master Plan" sort of way. Also features the highlife-tinged "Goin To Africa", and a lengthy reading of Coltrane's "Ole". LP, Vinyl record album

A seminal set from John Coltrane – one of those amazing records that wasn't issued until a few years after his death – then blew folks' minds even further with the depths of his talents! The setting is a live performance in Japan from 1966 – a really open-ended, freewheeling, totally expressive session cut with a group that also includes Pharoah Sanders on tenor, Alice Coltrane on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums. Clearly, the group's opening up a huge amount of new territory here – not just for Coltrane, but for jazz in general – as they propel firmly forward on two very long tracks – really letting Trane's ideas spill forth, continuously building momentum. One of the definitive statements of "energy-jazz", and a recording that has gone onto become one of Trane's most-hailed albums ever – with the tracks "Peace On Earth" and "Meditations/Leo". LP, Vinyl record album

A 2 LP retrospective of some of the more spiritual exploratory sides 'Trane was cutting in the mid to late '60's for Impulse. A number of cuts feature the classic quartet with Jimmy Garrison, McCoy Tyner & Elvin Jones, but a few feature some of the later lineups with Pharoah Sanders, Reggie Worman & Alice Coltrane. Tracks arte "Dear Lord", "Chasin the Trane", "Up 'Gainst the Wall", "Crescent", "Nature Boy", "Welcome", "Cosmos", "Dedicated to You", "Expression" & "Living Space". LP, Vinyl record album

4CDs – and some of the most far-reaching work that Coltrane ever recorded! The package expands the much shorter 2LP set that once was the seminal Live In Japan recording – a late concert performance showcasing 'Trane at his most out, featuring Alice Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders as well as Rashied Ali's propulsive drumming. Lengthy takes of "Leo" and "Peace on Earth" are spread out across very long takes – often running for well over 30 minutes – as 'Trane's ideas spill forth, continuously building momentum. One of the definitive statements of "energy-jazz", and a recording that has gone onto become one of Trane's most-hailed albums ever! Other titles include "Afro Blue", "Crescent", and one of the most "out" versions of "My Favorite Things" you'll ever hear! CD

One of the first moments of genius from a young Pharoah Sanders – a set that builds on the energy of John Coltrane's Love Supreme generation – but takes it in a much more expansive direction! The album's got a sense of majesty that's years ahead of its time – righteous, positive, spiritual jazz that flows out with a timeless power, and a quality that almost out-Coltrane's Coltrane! All tracks are long, expressive, and freely flowing – building with a very organic sense of energy – totally free from any gimmicks or cliche. Players include Dave Burrell on piano, Henry Grimes on bass, and Sonny Sharrock on guitar – and Pharoah plays alto, tenor, and piccolo – and even vocalizes a bit. The album begins with the amazing "Upper & Lower Egypt" – which is a perfect illustration of the two sides of Pharoah's genius – free/out & spiritual/modal – and other titles include "Japan", and "Capricorn Rising". CD

Two Pharoah Sanders classics – back to back on a single CD! Tauhid is one of the first moments of genius from a young Pharoah Sanders – a set that builds on the energy of John Coltrane's Love Supreme generation – but takes it in a much more expansive direction! The album's got a sense of majesty that's years ahead of its time – righteous, positive, spiritual jazz that flows out with a timeless power, and a quality that almost out-Coltrane's Coltrane! All tracks are long, expressive, and freely flowing – building with a very organic sense of energy – totally free from any gimmicks or cliche. Players include Dave Burrell on piano, Henry Grimes on bass, and Sonny Sharrock on guitar – and Pharoah plays alto, tenor, and piccolo – and even vocalizes a bit. The album begins with the amazing "Upper & Lower Egypt" – which is a perfect illustration of the two sides of Pharoah's genius – free/out & spiritual/modal – and other titles include "Japan", and "Capricorn Rising". Jewels Of Thought is a wonderful reunion of Pharoah Sanders and vocalist Leon Thomas – and a set that captures a lot of the same energy as the pair's previous record – Karma! Thomas' vocals are in wonderful form for the set – stretching out soulfully on the extended classic "Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah-Hum-Allah" – a title that has much of the same grace and power as "The Creator Has A Master Plan. The rest of the players on the date include Lonnie Liston Smith on piano, Richard Davis and Cecil McBee on basses, and Idris Muhammad and Roy Haynes on drums – and unusually enough, each of the double bassists and drummers gets their own channel of sound to work with! The other long track on the album is the extended "Sun In Aquarius" – which is a bit more outside, but still pretty great! CD

A seminal set from John Coltrane – one of those amazing records that wasn't issued until a few years after his death – then blew folks' minds even further with the depths of his talents! The setting is a live performance in Japan from 1966 – a really open-ended, freewheeling, totally expressive session cut with a group that also includes Pharoah Sanders on tenor, Alice Coltrane on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums. Clearly, the group's opening up a huge amount of new territory here – not just for Coltrane, but for jazz in general – as they propel firmly forward on two very long tracks – really letting Trane's ideas spill forth, continuously building momentum. One of the definitive statements of "energy-jazz", and a recording that has gone onto become one of Trane's most-hailed albums ever – with the tracks "Peace On Earth" and "Meditations/Leo". CD

John Coltrane returns to the Village Vanguard – but his sound here is a lot more far-reaching than a few years before! The album's a great counterpart to the first Vanguard session – as it takes all of the bold, soaring energy of that date, and balances it with the newly introspective sound of the later Coltrane years – plus some of the freedoms learned from the Love Supreme era. The group here showcases the new territory explored by Coltrane – with Trane himself on tenor, soprano, and a bit of bass clarinet (echoing earlier Dolphy), plus Pharoah Sanders on additional tenor, Alice Coltrane on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Rasheid Ali on drums. The album only features 2 long tracks – an incredibly soulful version of "Naima", and a very firey version of "My Favorite Things", but one that begins with a haunting bass solo by Garrison! LP, Vinyl record album

An album that's quite different than you might expect from the title – one of the most adventurous records issued on Impulse during the life of John Coltrane! The tracks here are all quite free and far-reaching – hardly the mellow "meditations" you might expect – and more the new unbridled sense of energy that Trane was letting loose in the post-Love Supreme years. The group here features some tremendous tenor from Pharoah Sanders – joining the core lineup of McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums – who himself is inspired to new heights by the addition of Rashied Ali as a second drummer. The work has a searing emotive quality that goes beyond most that Coltrane had recorded before this point – and titles include the classic "The Father The Son & The Holy Ghost", plus "Love", "Consequences", "Serenity", and "Compassion". LP, Vinyl record album

Lost genius from the great John Coltrane – a never-issued set, but one that's attained legendary status over the years – thanks to its placement in the Impulse Records vaults! The performance is amazing – filled with soul and spirit, and so much searching that at one famous point in the concert, Coltrane actually puts down his tenor, walks to the microphone, and begins singing and chanting – really driving the rest of the group on with his energy. All tracks are long – and while things are as free as in some of the other important live documents of the time – like the Coltrane In Japan recordings – there's a really spiritual quality that unifies the whole thing – and keeps the music very much in the best Love Supreme mode. The group features Coltrane on soprano, tenor, and flute – plus Pharoah Sanders on tenor and piccolo, Alice Coltrane on piano, Sonny Johnson on bass, and Rashied Ali on drums – and the group's joined by additional alto and percussion players too. Titles include a 26 minute reading of "Crescent", a 23 minute take on "My Favorite Things", and the tracks "Leo", "Offering", and "Naima". CD

Beautifully spiritual jazz from the post-Coltrane generation – a wealth of righteous grooves from the early 70s – brought together in one mighty collection! If you dig the work of Pharoah Sanders, Alice Coltrane, and other giants on Impulse Records, this is a great way to dig even deeper – and hear the way their late 60s legacy inspired other musicians to new heights in their own music – sounds that hit a new level of freedom in jazz, yet which are still filled with enough swing and soul to avoid some of the more avant modes of the free jazz scene! If that description sounds a bit obtuse, then just plug into the collection, and let the music do its thing – as it's got a very powerful vibe throughout – the kind of inspirational, socially conscious work that flourished best during the 70s – and which is finally getting its due all these many years later. The package is new territory for Ace/BGP, but they've done a great job as usual – picking key tracks from the era, and coming up with detailed notes on each of the long tracks. Titles include "Free Angela" by Bayete, "Bridge Into The New Age" by Azar Lawrence, "Tress Cun De O La" by Joe Henderson, "Ebony Queen" by McCoy Tyner, "Peace" by Idris Muhammad, "Mother Of The Future" by Norman Connors, "Brown Warm & Wintry" by Jack DeJohnette, "I've Known Rivers" by Gary Bartz, and "Fire" by Joe Henderson & Alice Coltrane. CD