John Coltrane - Olé Coltrane

Titel

1. Olé pt. 1
2. Olé pt. 2
3. Dahomey Dance
4. Aisha

Coltrane’s final album for Atlantic Records – released in November 1961 – forms the counterpart to the exploratory motifs he investigated on his simultaneously recorded debut for Impulse!, Africa/Brass. Both albums feature intricate rhythmic shifts and Spanish-inspired textures – compositions that only a pioneer with almost otherworldly musical abilities could create. For Olé Coltrane, the exceptional saxophonist assembled an outstanding ensemble including pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones, and an uncredited Eric Dolphy.

Coltrane’s interest in Spanish music, clearly evident on Olé Coltrane, may have been sparked by Sketches Of Spain, the legendary album by his former employer Miles Davis. However, Olé Coltrane embraced improvisations that stretched beyond conventional boundaries – without losing sight of melodic beauty.

Writing about Olé Coltrane, John Ballon (All About Jazz) described it as “a major milestone in ‘Trane’s’ artistic development and an essential recording for any collection.” We fully agree.