Coltrane Plays The Blues

Coltrane's sessions for Atlantic in late October 1960 were prolific, yielding the material for My Favorite Things, Coltrane Plays the Blues, and Coltrane's Sound. My Favorite Things was destined to be the most remembered and influential of these, and while Coltrane Plays the Blues is not as renowned or daring in material, it is still a powerful session. As for the phrase "plays the blues" in the title, that's not so much an indicator that the tunes are conventional blues (which they aren't). It's more indicative of a bluesy sensibility, whether he is playing muscular saxophone or, on "Blues to Bechet" and "Mr. Syms," the more unusual-sounding (at the time) soprano sax. Elvin Jones, who hadn't been in Coltrane's band long, really busts out on the quicker numbers, such as "Blues to You" and "Mr. Day." The 2000 reissue on Rhino (and the 2008 Japanese reissue) adds five bonus tracks: two alternates apiece of "Blues to Elvin" and "Blues to You" (which were originally released on the 1995 Heavyweight Champion: The Complete Atlantic Recordings box), and "Untitled Original (Exotica)." This last track first appeared on the 1970 compilation The Coltrane Legacy and, like every other one on this CD, was recorded on October 24, 1960. (All Music Guide - Richie Unterberger)

1. Blues to Elvin
2. Blues to Bechet
3. Blues to You
4. Mr. Day
5. Mr. Syms
6. Mr. Knight