Cannonball & Coltrane
This record, one of many fine pairings of these saxophone giants has an energy and verve from the outset, propelled ever forwards by the energetic ride cymbal of... The cultural and musical stature of Coltrane might sometimes make us forget Cannonball's brilliance, but he is a force to be reckoned with in the alto lineage. The tunes are neither fascinating nor particularly memorable, but they serve as effective springboards for the improvisations that follow. This straight ahead playing over changes could have textbooks written on it. If one can put up with the hard panning of the time, we have such an enjoyable recording that aside from the piano is beautifully recorded. Judging recordings by today's standards is hardly fair, especially when the playing demonstrates a verve and vitality often lacking in jazz today, certainly in much of the British scene. Here we have heroes of the golden age of jazz playing at a very high level. The ballad You're a Weaver of Dreams has Coltrane playing the lyrics in that meaningful way that only he can. Surely Naima had words if known only to Coltrane? 'The Sleeper' has a bluesy groove and features some of those sweeping arpeggios that Coltrane would further eviscerate and develop in future recordings. The rhythmical displacements that hr so expertly creates as he sweeps up and down these are so fascinating and draw us in like only Coltrane could. The piano solo on the same tune is solid if a little too safe and sometimes stuck in those slightly bland left hand voicings. The length of these recordings is ideal and makes one long for the days when music came in lovely big sleeves and note in soulless megabytes. Cannonball makes his solo as bluesy as possible before the subtle and curious head returns. Fragmented by a bass solo, the final chorus cheekily makes an abrupt stop. Stars Fell on Alabama has Cannonball's vibrato channelling Johnny Hodges and demonstrates beyond doubt why he was one of the classiest alto players of all time. His implied double time phrases during his solo showcase an excellence and finesse rarely heard on alto today. Alabama no doubt has a poignancy for those musicians. Perhaps places have less of an emotional pull on this generation's jazz musicians, which is a pity. The strength of feeling in the music is vividly apparent in my view.