Interlude

Two Hundred Eleven

Artist - John Coltrane
Album - Coltrane
Released - 1957
Label - Prestige Records
Genre - Jazz

Tracks:
Side 1
Bakai
Violets For Your Furs
Time Was
Side 2
Straight Street
While My Lady Sleeps
Chronic Blues

The debut album by John Coltrane, Coltrane is golden.  Jazz is one of my favorite genres of music and I honestly wish I knew more about it, but when I listen to this record, I stop and pause and open my mind to the thought of relaxation.  Lying on your bed, with your eyes closed and listening to the saxophone wind   you down.  Even the more upbeat tracks have a nice sound on the ears.  I just absolutely love John Coltrane and I don't think I've come across one record or song of his I did not like.

Bakai (which means "cry" in Arabic), by Cal Massey, opens side one.  Its handsome minor theme is expounded by Red Garland, Coltrane (who really cries) and Shihab.  The rest of side one is handled by the quartet featuring Trane and Red.  Two ballad standards, Violen For Your Furs and Time Was are the subjects; the former receives a sensitive ballad treatment while the latter is done in bright medium time.  Side two opens on Straight Street, a Coltrane composition and arrangement which features solos by the leader, Johnnie Splawn and Mal Waldron.  An intensely different Coltrane interpretation of the seldom done While My Lady Sleeps is Trane's also until Splawn joins him for a final eerie note.  Trane's Chronic Blues is the closer and gives the horns and Waldron solo room.

Enjoy!

Soothing, Yes Indeed!

One Hundred Forty-Second

Artist - John Coltrane
Album - Standard Coltrane
Released - 1962
Label - Prestige
Genre - Jazz

Tracks:
Side A
Don't Take Your Love From Me
I'll Get By
Side B
Spring is Here
Invitation

Something about John Coltrane that puts my mind at ease.  As I listen to this record, the first thing that pops in my head is, "Man, I wish I had someone to dance with."  Yes, I do like to slow dance in my house while I listen to records.  A few times I would make Kevin dance with me because I just felt like having a human body swaying side to side with mine.  Otherwise, I would pick up one of the dogs and just put them in my arms as my legs move to the rhythm and sound of John Coltrane. I think the best thing I like about listening to John Coltrane and his band play is not only the trumpets and sax (I'm a huge horn sound person), but the drums.  The way it is not too overpowering yet subtle to go with the flow of the piano and other instruments.  It's enjoyable so that it's basically made to mellow you out or even give you a bit of energy.  I think that aspect has a lot to do with the bass.  I enjoy a great Coltrane album from time to time, but I definitely need to find/play more.

Enjoy!

I'm BACK

As I have been out of commission these past few days, I've been slowly dying simply for the fact that I could not post my vinyl records on this blog.  My vacation is now over and I am back in full force and nothing would make it better than displaying my fifty-seventh pick.

Artist - John Coltrane

Album - The Gentle Side of John Coltrane

Released - 1975

Label - ABC Records

Genre - Jazz

Tracks:

Side A

Soul Eyes (Recorded June 19, 1962)

What's New (Recorded September 18, 1962)

Welcome (Recorded June 10, 1965)

Nancy (Recorded September 18, 1962)

Side B

My Little Brown Book (Recorded September 26, 1962)

Lush Life (Recorded March 7, 1963)

Wise One (Recorded April 27, 1964)

Side C

Alabama (Recorded November 18, 1963)

My One and Only Love (Recorded March 7, 1963)

I Want to Talk About You (Recorded October 8, 1963)

Dear Lord (Recorded May 26, 1965)

Side D

After the Rain (Recorded April 29, 1963)

In a Sentimental Mood (Recorded September 26, 1962)

The Spiritual (Recorded November 5, 1961

Nothing makes me happier than listening to jazz on a day like today.  My first day back to work and I am all kinds of tired.  All day I thought about what I would put on to get me back on track and this was it.  John Coltrane knows how to make me feel relaxed, especially on a day like today.  His sound, his musical talent is just beyond words and with this record, you sense it.  The title tracks alone make you fall in love with what would be heaven upon the ears.  I have a special fascination with jazz, soul or any kind of soft instrumental music.  I like to play it while I eat, while I read, while I cook and definitely while I am relaxing.  

Enjoy!

Just a little inspired here!!

Another good day, but I felt a little on the lonely side, which doesn't happen often for me.  I think it was because I slept late, slept through my alarms (yes, I have four alarms) and woke up on my own at 6:45 a.m. to sunlight which freaked me out.  Throughout the day, I mentally prepped myself for my after work run/jog and I got a little too excited because of the app I downloaded onto my phone to track my progress.  I am definitely inspired here by a certain someone and it lightened my mood and made me happy.  To you, my friend, I dedicate this album to you for the simple fact that jazz is my favorite and so are you:

Artist/Album - Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane
Released - 1961
Label - Jazzland
Genre - Jazz


Tracks:
Side 1
Ruby, My Dear
Trinkle, Tinkle
Off Minor
Side 2
Nutty
Epistrophy
Functional

Nothing is more relaxing than listening to jazz with a nice glass of wine.  When I cook or do anything that requires a certain skill, I love to listen to jazz.  As I was searching for today's pick, I came across this fantastic record that displays the sweet sounds of the saxophone, bass and piano.  Thelonious Monk was a brief obsession of mine as of late and seeing this record brought back the memories of why I love him so much.  But not only do you have the wonderful and illustrious Thelonious Monk, but he's also joined by another favorite of mine John Coltrane.  This dynamic duo teamed up for only half a year at New York's Five Spot Cafe in the beginning in the summer of 1957.  It was said that Monk and Coltrane complimented each other perfectly which resulted in the successful musical alliance.  This album is simply relaxing and it will put you in an optimistic mood.

Enjoy!