From the mouth of a less soulful musician, John Coltrane’s marathon races on tenor saxophone might have been mere feats of athletic endurance and dexterity. With Coltrane, they pierced the veil of ecstasy. This four-CD set collects recordings from eight concerts in Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki. The rhythm section of Elvin Jones (drums) and Reggie Workman (bass), along with McCoy Tyner on piano, swings, bops and maintains a mellow pace depending on the mood. Eric Dolphy (alto sax and woodwinds) steps up alongside Coltrane, adding more color to the sonic tapestry. The 1961 tour represents what many critics justifiably consider a classic Coltrane lineup, gathering together stellar musicians who would all become important in their own right.
