John Coultrane Essay, Research Paper

On September 15, 1957, John Coltrane recorded “Blue Train”, an album he considered his favorite, and many critics considecontributes to the sound. Coltrane provides listeners with an impressive r his best work. The album’s rhythm Chambers finishes up with a bass solo before the opening statement is repeated, bringing the song to a full circle by its end.

The next song is “Moment’s Notice” which is also swung and in 4/4. This song played at a faster pace and has a catchy melody that becomes rather complex as the whole band solo on sax followed by the trombone and trumpet solos. Paul Chambers then begins his bowed bass solo with the piano comping in the back. Drew finishes the solos on the piano before the song closes.

“Locomotion” is an up tempo blues song in 4/4 that begins with a brief drum intro. The saxophone begins the solos with a walking bass line in the back and the piano playing on the top. Curtis Fuller solos on the trombone with the drums in the back. There is a pause in the back when the trumpet begins soloing, and shortly after the drums and bass return behind the trumpet’s sound. Kenny Drew’s piano solo starts and leads to Philly Joe on the drums. Philly Joe Jones uses a mixture of loud and soft, as well as fast and slow beats to create a dynamic effect. Throughout all the tracks, no horn instruments play at the same time and the drums, bass, and piano, are shuffled around to play in the back. The song then returns to the melody before coming to an abrupt ending reminiscent of the stopping of a locomotive.

“I’m Old Fashioned” is the only track on the album that is not originally done by Coltrane. This song has a warm and slow pace, and feels almost like a waltz. The time signature seems to be 2/4 and swung. This song exemplifies the way the band is able to adapt with tunes set in any tempo. Coltrane starts the solos with a soft saxophone and then a sensitive trombone. The piano solo is perfectly played with the added effect of the drummer rubbing brushes in the background. since it has a small be bop feel to it. The song begins wiLee Morgan then begins a trumpet solo that eventually brings the song to its end.

“Lazy Bird” is a faster paced song that is 4/4 and swung. It is quite possible that this song is a tribute to Charlie “Bird” Parker th the piano intro, and then goes to trumpet that states the melody and goes into a solo. The comes Fuller on the trombone, Coltrane on sax, Drew on the piano, Chambers using a bow, and then a crazy drum solo by Philly Joe. Lee Morgan on the trumpet then takes us back to the theme where the song and album end.

I felt that “Blue Train” brought me to a new level of jazz enlightenment. While driving my truck on Texas’s monotonous highways over Spring Break, the sound of John Coltrane’s sax and Paul Chamber’s bass constantly distracted me from the boredom of the highway and lightened my mood. It made me feel as if I was in a different place where I could make new discoveries. With the stereo blaring, “Blue Train” overwhelmed me, putting my mind at ease. By looking deep into the songs, I was able to hear things that amazed me and made me feel like I had missed out by not listening to music as closely up until this point.

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girls are hoessection consisted of John Coltrane playing tenor sax, Lee Morgan trumpet, Curtis Fuller trombone, Kenny Drew piano, Paul Chambers bass, and Philly Joe Jones on the drums. Throughout the album, it is easy to recognize how each musician knows the other musicians styles and how to play off them.

Coltrane’s album starts with the song “Blue Train”. The song is swung with a 4/4 time signature. The trumpet player Lee Morgan immediately jumps into the melody. It is followed by a brief sax solo by Coltrane, which leads to the trumpet that ends with a closing phrase forming an energetic statement. Next, Curtis Fuller gives his trombone solo with drums and bass playing softly in the background before Kenny Drew takes over on the piano. Drummer Philly Joe Jones does an amazing job at constantly changing and reacting to the solos of the others. Paul

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