My Favorite Things

Product Description:

Personnel: John Coltrane (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); McCoy Tyner (piano); Jimmy Garrison (double bass); Elvin Jones, Roy Haynes (drums).

By his 1963 appearance at Newport, John Coltrane had already embraced the sinuous, exploratory modal form that marked his most striking recordings. MY FAVORITE THINGS: COLTRANE AT NEWPORT brings together performances from two of the legendary saxophonist's appearances at the Newport Jazz Festival: one from 1963 and the other from 1965. The set lists contain only a few extended pieces, the longer of which stretch upwards of 20 minutes.

Coltrane performs here with his classic quintet--bassist Jimmy Garrison, pianist McCoy Tyner, and drummer Elvin Jones. On the '63 date, Roy Haynes sits in for Jones, and Haynes's effect on the music (he has a lighter touch and is more of a colorist) will strike the ear of those who know this period of Coltrane well. Another stand-out quality of the disc is the extended jam on "Impressions," released here for the first time in its entirety. The playing is transcendent throughout, making the disc a winning purchase for any Coltrane fan, not just collectors.