On March 7, 1963, the iconic saxophonist recorded his only album with a singer. How one of the most acclaimed works of the genre was built.
Rick Blessed, American musician and specialist, considers it the album with the best sound quality ever produced in any genre. 62 years passed, and John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman Keep talking.
This album, composed of the two musicians present in the title, It consists of six cuts, which are divided by three per side and last only 31:11 minutes. However, the interpretive quality of the saxophonist and the singer formed a masterpiece.
How Coltrane and Hartman met
While there is the version that Coltrane and Hartman met at the end of the forties, as members of the Dizzy Gillespie bandthe truth is that they did not coincide in time. It is not known exactly when each one discovered the talent of the other, although it is known that In 1963, producer Bob Thiele approached Johnny Hartman to tell him that Coltrane asked him to record with him.
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At first, The singer hesitated to acceptfor not being considered a jazz interpreter and for believing that his style would not be complemented with that of the legendary musician. Anyway, Thiele encouraged him to see Coltrane play at the New York “Birdland” club. Once the show is finished, without a audience and the closed barJohn and his pianist that night, the historic McCoy Tyner, They improvised some issues In front of the special guest, who was completely convinced.
The details of the record recording
For him March 7, 1963Coltrane and Hartman They had already decided the ten songs that would integrate the repertoire. There happened a curious episode, when in the radius apparatus of the car that led them to the study the subject began to sound “Lush life”by Billy Strayhorn, played by Nat King Cole, so Johnny decided that They should also include it on the album.
The Van Gelder Studio of Englewood Cliffs, in New Jersey, was used a single day, which was enough to record all the songs. Coltrane, Hartman, Tyner, the bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones had such talent than All themes were recorded in one shot. The only exception was “You are Too Beautiful”, which required two, because Elvin Johns fell a drumstick during the first.
Later, the king of the saxo just add some phrases on top of “My One and Only Love”, “Lush Life” and “You are Too Beautiful”. These three were added “They Say It’s Wonderful”, “Dedicated To You” and “Autumn Serenade”which completed the LP. Although they were also recorded, “All or Nothing at All”, “It’s Easy to Remember”, “Say It (Over and Over Again)” and “Nancy with the Lughing Face” were left out.
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John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman is One of the most undervalued titles of Coltrane’s career and jazz history. The exquisite arrangements of Trane and Tyner complemented with Hartman’s sweet voice, which achieved beautiful interpretations loaded with feeling.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
