Saxothon: John Coltrane

April 13, 2011 • 3:23 am

I guess this song is sort of a Coltrane cliche, but it never grows old.  Who else could take a sappy Rogers and Hammerstein song from The Sound of Music and turn it into a jazz classic?

Here’s the great John Coltrane playing “My Favorite Things” live (it appeared on the eponymous album in 1961).  Coltrane has a fantastic group here: McCoy Tyner on piano,  Elvin Jones on drums, and Steve Davis on bass.  And Trane plays a soprano rather than a tenor sax.  I don’t know who does the flute solo (I’m sure one of you knows), but I could have done without it.

The liner notes on the YouTube site say more about this remarkable performance.

28 thoughts on “Saxothon: John Coltrane”

  1. Coltrane is ‘One of My Favorite Things’.

    The flutist is the master Eric Dolphy. Eric was very influential and played numerous instruments.

    1. 3 instruments, actually: alto sax, flute, bas clarinet.
      As a kid I bought Oliver Nelson’s Blues and the Abstract Truth because Freddie Hubbard was on there, and Dolphy’s incredible solos practically blew my head apart.
      His Out to Lunch is a seminal achievement.

    2. Indeed, it’s common for woodwind players to play multiple instruments.

      Aside from percussionists, I can’t think of any other case where that’s common. The valved brass instruments all use the same fingering system, but it’s rare for brass musicians to play anything other than minor variations on their primary instrument. For example, most trumpeters will own a cornet or a flugelhorn or trumpets in different keys, but almost none will play (French) horn — let alone euphonium or tuba. A very few violinists will also play viola, but it’s almost unheard of for them to play cello or bass.

      By all that, I of course mean, “at a professional level.” I’m sure you’ll find, say, a trombonist who’s got a beat-up old clarinet in the closet she’ll pull out every now and again for giggles, but she’d never play it in public.

      Cheers,

      b&

  2. “I don’t know who does the flute solo, …but I could have done without it.”

    How dare you say that about the great Eric Dolphy? My absolute favorite woodwind player. Ever.

    2. Ah, I’ve heard him, but on sax, not on flute, but didn’t know what he looked like.

      I didn’t like him on sax, either. I have to admit that don’t have much truck with jazz after Coltrane.

        1. Let me look it up, if I can find the CD before work. But Dolphy has the finest improv solo I have ever heard. It’s on bass clarinet, and it might even meet JC’s criteria for mellowness. I’ll get back to you. I guess I’ll just be late for work until I find it.

          2. I’m pretty sure that I was thinking of “Aggression” on 5-Spot volume 2. JC wouldn’t like that one at all. However, it might be one of the 2 songs on the Eric Dolphy & Booker Little Memorial Album, recorded at the 5-Spot, which also contains a long bass clarinet solo, but I didn’t pull that one to listen to on my way to work.

            Dolphy’s flute work is generally pretty aggressive. He overblows a lot, and either his flute, or every recording of it, is very harsh in the upper register. I’m not even going to try to convince JC, because it’s a matter of preference, but Dolphy is still my favorite. Followed by Anthony Braxton, then Coltrane.

            I’ll check out the Russell, though. Always on the lookout.

          3. Yes, Dolphy is my favorite as well. Listening to his articulation on Stormy Weather (From Candid Dolphy) sends shivers up my spine. And down my spine. And then back up.

            Albert Ayler is also worth a mention.

  3. This series went from “(mostly) meh” to “awesome”, and now there is no moar truck (with jazz)? I’m glad we met halfway then.

    [+1 on the flute funky fhang, btw, I had to skip it to save my sanity. … and that’s one of those instruments I knew how to play too …]

    1. Having recently listened to some Jethro Tull I think I can safely say that it’s more than just jazz where the flute doesn’t work.

      3. Never heard any Return To Forever? It works tremendously well there. Joe Farrell’s solo from Spain on Light as a Feather is one example.

  5. Everytime I listen to this number I get a warm and tinglingly feeling inside. Coltrane’s melodious playing was genius.

  6. The album version and this live version differ quite a bit, with the live version suffering in comparison. It’s worth listening to the album to hear McCoy Tyner’s long brilliant solo and the way he works under Coltrane’s solos. Coltrane is brilliant as always, but what makes this a classic in my mind is McCoy Tyner. And here it sounds like Coltrane is playing a kazoo in his second solo.

    1. One of the great memories of my own misspent youth came at a jazz history class I took from Bill Smith (jazz clarinetist) at the U of Washington in the 1970s. McCoy Tyner’s group had been performing in Seattle and Smith had been able to get them to come in and play for us. Since it had been quite “stony” out the night before, and this was a morning class, listening to Tyner was infinitely preferable to listening to a lecture. Seattle has always had a pretty good jazz scene for such an out-of-the-way place.

  7. No truck with jazz after Coltrane?

    When you diss’ dogs in favor of cats that’s one thing. I’m a live and let lick kinda dog guy, but kitties need love too.

    And the whole cowboy boot thing is OK too. I wouldn’t want to walk a mile in your shoes, they pinch my toes. So, to each their own.

    But if you badmouth Weather Report or Spyro Gyra, well that would just be too much, sir. ;^)

  8. Even tho I love Dolphy on sax and bc, I’m with Buddy Rich: “Flute!?! Ain’t no sound in a fucking flute!”

    1. Well, there is sound in a flute, it’s just difficult to hear over Rich’s incessant drum-wanking.

      1. Ouch! Rich was a first class asshole, but he was a terrific drummer.

        Upon further review, you’re probably right. The rest of the band only served as a vehicle for him.

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