Today we have a wonderful and unexpected treat – a hitherto unknown live recording of the full "A Love Supreme" suite with Pharoah Sanders playing with Coltrane. Rolling Stone has a review.
It’s telling that some of the most memorable moments on the new John Coltrane archival release, A Love Supreme: Live in Seattle, don’t actually include John Coltrane. The original Love Supreme, the saxophonist’s legendary album-length suite of divine praise, featured his rightfully named classic quartet, with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison, and drummer Elvin Jones; this version, recorded onstage 10 months later, in October 1965, and previously unknown even to hardcore fans, augments that band with three additional players: saxophonists Pharoah Sanders and Carlos Ward, both of whom double on percussion, and second bassist Donald Rafael Garrett. The studio version will always be definitive, but there’s something magical and almost transgressive about hearing a loose and rowdy septet power through the four movements of this now-canonical work.
The recording isn't perfect - the drums are too loud (RS describes them as thunderous), but the playing is spectacular. If you just want to get a taste of it, listen to "Part IV, Psalm". The beauty will make you weep.
YouTube Music has the whole album.
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