[BestEverAlbums]

Today's album of the day

Blue Train by John Coltrane (View album | Buy this album)

Year: 1957.
Country:
Overall rank: 356
Average rating: 84/100 (from 527 votes).

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Tracks:
1. Blue Train
2. Moment's Notice
3. Locomotion
4. I'm Old Fashioned
5. Lazy Bird

About album of the day: The BestEverAlbums.com album of the day is the album appearing most prominently in member charts in the previous 24 hours. If an album, or artist, has previously been selected within a x day period, the next highest album is picked instead (and so on) to ensure a bit of variety. A full history of album of the day can be viewed here.

[Fischman]

In many ways, Blue Train is an anomaly in Coltrane's catalog. It was the only recording he did as a leader for Blue Note. It is also his only through and through hard bop album. To some, it seems a bit out of place in his canon. But let's face it; 'Trane is such a talented, accomplished musician, that even if he isn't known for hard bop, if he decides to do hard bop, you can bet it's gonna' be an outstanding example of the genre. And it most certainly is.

'Trane got to pick his own band for this recording, and he did a helluva' job; this is an absolute hard bop dream team right here. Holding down the rhythm section is the ultimate hard bop combo of Paul Chambers (bass) and Philly Joe Jones (drums). Joining 'Trane on the front line are the greatest of all hard bop trumpeters, Lee Morgan, and Jazz' all time 'bone master, Curtis fuller.

After amassing this elite band of special jazz forces, 'Trane then deploys his forces like a master tactician. He knows when to join forces and when to link individual actions together. When joined forces lead, he blends them into a single mind, seamlessly marching through one great tune after another. Within the first bar, the opening title cut announces this masterful symbiosis as 'Trane, Morgan, and Fuller's horns all blend together to bring forth the first musical theme with the most captivating harmony. This level of melody, harmony, and instrumental integration in the head exceeds the hard bop norm and places the breadth of harmonic possibilities in the listener's mind and ear, preparing him to ride through the rollicking solos to follow.

All but one track are Coltrane originals, the one exception being the standard "I'm Old Fashioned," during which the band (especially Fuller) morphs into balladeers of the highest order.

The sound on the Rudy Van Gelder remaster is excellent.

Prior to this listen, I had Blue Train listed as my number two 'Trane album, behind A Love Supreme. After this listen, I have no inclination to change that. I still think it stands out as a fantastic musical achievement as well as a damn fun listen. The only thing I would add to my previous assessment is that it may be #2 behind A, Love Supreme... but not by much!