John Coltrane - Living Space

The bulk of Living Space has been previously released in the 1970's, but this collection is the first time this music has been available on compact disc.  The tracks on Living Space were recorded with the "classic" quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones in the summer of 1965 shortly before their appearance at Pittsburgh Jazz Festival and the subsequent recording session for the free-jazz free-for-all, Ascension.  As such, these songs are among some of the "free-est" material recorded by the classic quartet.  The last track, called "The Last Blues" is a newly discovered song, almost literally "lost in the vaults".  It was discovered by Coltrane's son, Ravi (who is also a sax player by trade), at the Coltrane family home among Coltrane's personal tapes.  The newly found recording is in mono, but the sound quality is almost a match for the songs transfered from the original masters.  More importantly, it stands side-by-side with the other tracks in quality.  The addition of this never-before available track makes Living Space essential for Coltrane completists, and on the plus side, it's an excellent well-played outing by Trane and his partners.

Although the newly found track is notable, the most powerful track, "Living Space", starts off the album.  It features a fabulous overdubbed exposition of the theme by Coltrane on soprano sax.  Tyner, Garrison, and especially drummer Elvin Jones offer perfectly understated support for Coltrane to soar above.

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Miles Davis/Bill Laswell - Panthalassa: The Music of Miles Davis 1969-1974

With about twenty-five to thirty years having passed since most of the music on this album was recorded, it's amazing to hear just how up-to-date this music still sounds.  One might wonder how much of that is due to Bill Laswell's remix, and to my ears, Laswell has done very little to "modernize" this music.  The intensity and groove behind the music is all Miles Davis, specifically the "electric" Miles of the 70's.
 

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The Artist Formerly Known As Prince - Crystal Ball

A friend of mine recently said, "People don't wanna be spending forty dollars on no Prince CD's."  I guess the only folks who really care are fans of the small purple one.  Being one of those folks, I rushed out and got Crystal Ball in the store as soon as it was available.  There's a "limited edition" version of the set enclosed in a round case made of clear plastic.  It's not all that practical, and the CD's look like they might get scratched up pretty easy in the thing.  I mentioned this to the clerk, and she gave me some free jewel cases to keep the CD's in. 

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John Zorn's Masada - Masada 9: Tet

My exposure to John Zorn's Masada quartet is limited.  I only have the latest three installments in the series (Masada 7, 8, and 9), but as far as I can tell, these guys just get better and better as time goes on.  Masada 9: Tet is the most propulsive of the three, but it's not all fire and bluster; there are some fine introspective moments and sublime melodies.

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