I found myself with one of those weeks where, inexplicably, it seemed like a quiet week for the new release radar - too quiet, as it turns out. I came home from work, checked my email, and lo and behold, there's a strange little email from Amazon in there reading "Your Amazon.com order has shipped." My what? Why don't I remember anything being ordered for this week?
Upon opening it, I remembered placing my order for John Coltrane's My Favorite Things: Coltrane at Newport a couple weeks ago. It was a curiosity-buy - Coltrane's a safe-bet as long as whatever it is is a legitimate release, and I knew it was obviously one or some of the Newport concerts he'd played. Now, however, I know a bit more - it's basically Newport '63, minus the 1961 recording of "Chasin' Another Trane" and with what appears to be three other tracks from New Thing At Newport in its place, if the track times match the way I think they do.
I think, based on all of the other live Coltrane releases that I have, that I'm pretty safe assuming this is going to be a rewarding release that I have a feeling many others who don't have either Newport set are probably overlooking by accident.
Article comments
1 - JC Mosquito
Is this the set with Roy Haynes sitting in for Elvin Jones? If it is, if nothing it illustrates how important Jones was to the sound of the classic quartet. Haynes does OK for himself, but really, it's not the same.
2 - Tom Johnson
I had to check AllMusic, but the 1965 version of "My Favorite Things" and "One Up One Down" is with Haynes. I like Haynes' drumming, but you're right - I'm not sure how they work together. I don't think anything else with Haynes has been released, right?
3 - JC Mosquito
So I'm looking at my CDs right now - Newport 63 has: I Want to Talk About You, Fave Things & Impressions, as well as one 1961 Village Vanguard recording, all with Haynes; while the Coltrane/Shepp package has Newport '65 recordings of One Down, One Up and My Fave Things with Jones.
So does this new album duplicate My Favorite Things, one with Haynes and one with Jones? And are there any tracks other than what I just mentioned?
4 - Tom Johnson
I guess I got the Haynes and Jones tracks switched around, sorry about that.
You're only missing "Introduction by Father Norman O'Connor," which I doubt is that much of a loss. The only thing you'll be missing is the new remastering, so if you're happy with your versions, you actually have the "bonus" of the 1961 "Chasin' Another Trane."
5 - JC Mosquito
I've got the intro as well - didn't bother counting it. Sound qualty is fine. Thanx for sorting that out for me TJ - this is one Coltrane album I can finally pass on buying!