Kenny Burrell & John Coltrane

by Kenny Burrell / John Coltrane

Personnel: Kenny Burrell (guitar); John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on March 7, 1958. Includes liner notes by Robert Levin and Mark Gardner.

Digitally remastered by Kirk Felton (1987, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

Personnel: Kenny Burrell (guitar); John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Jimmy Cobb (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on March 7, 1958.

Originally released on New Jazz (8276).

Personnel: John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Tommy Flanagan (piano); Jimmy Cobb (drums).

Audio Remasterers: Kirk Felton; Rudy Van Gelder.

Liner Note Authors: Dan Morgenstern; Mark Gardner ; Robert Levin.

Recording information: Hackensack, NJ (03/07/1958); New Jersey (03/07/1958); Van Gelder Studios, Hackensack, NJ (03/07/1958).

Author: Rudy Van Gelder.

Photographer: Don Schlitten.

During his final months with Miles Davis' group, John Coltrane participated in a number of recording sessions for Prestige independently of Davis. This album is but one such recording. In 1958, when this recording was made, Coltrane may have been at his creative peak. During this period, his work began to transcend "bebop" and "cool," anticipating even more modern developments in jazz-changes that would affect a whole generation of musicians.

On KENNY BURRELL WITH JOHN COLTRANE, we hear the two jazz masters creating time-honored renditions of tunes such as "Why Was I Born," a duet that highlights the musicians' ability to not only savor each note, but to take a rather plaintive composition and develop it organically. Burrell, Coltrane, and company swing "Freight Trane" with great authority, thanks to the drumming acumen of Jimmy Cobb. On this tune, Coltrane uses a variety of sudden flourishes and lyrical lines, while Burrell comps chords in simpatico. Most importantly, this album represents the one-time chemistry of Burrell and Coltrane. That alone makes this CD a must.