The John Coltrane Quintet Featuring Eric Dolphy played two shows at the Konserthuset in Stockholm, Sweden, on November 23, 1961. There are many complete recordings of the early show in circulation and, seemingly, some confusion around recordings from the late show. Various bootlegs and unofficial releases are cited as containing part or all of the second performance but it is not clear how accurate this information is. For the purposes here, let's look at the positively-identified first performance.
A rollicking "My Favorite Things" kicks off the set. It is some combination of sloppy, disjointed, devilish, exuberant and downright comical. Coltrane comes out of the gate with some off-key saxophone squawks, but as if to prove that there are no mistakes in music, he incorporates the honking into a longer melody line to the point where all the listener can do is shake his head and laugh. It's so outrageously out front, unusual and playful...Coltrane's initial run gives way to a McCoy Tyner exploration which, in turn, is picked up by Eric Dolphy on flute. Dolphy has his way with the melody for several minutes before Coltrane rolls back for another intense round on his horn, dueting the melody with Dolphy before heading off on his own. Coltrane and drummer Elvin Jones are locked in for a series of peaks and valleys.
"Blue Train", with its uber-cool opening line sets the stage for a solo from Coltrane that starts with the blues but quickly goes somewhere else entirely. Propelled by a swinging drum line from Jones, it is not hard to imagine the audience bouncing in their seats. Dolphy takes over and does what he does best, wiggling in and around the melody, again rooted in blues, but as quirky and angular as can be. Tyner steps up at the six-minute mark and leads some terrific interplay between himself, Jones and bassist Reggie Workman.
"Naima" is a short but oh-so-sweet vehicle for some delicate bass clarinet work from Dolphy. His is the only solo, with Coltrane accompanying him on the main theme, to loud applause.
The barn-burner "Impressions" closes the set, with its unique combination of propulsion and swing. Given how large a role in Coltrane's live repertoire this song played, it is hard to believe he only tracked it once in the studio. No matter, it is live where the song really opens up. It's skeletal chord progressions (identical to
So What) are ideally suited to the modal inquisitiveness of Doplhy and Coltrane's horns.
Many reviewers cite this show as the best of Coltrane's 1961 European tour. That might be a step too far but like the rest of that historic run - and despite the limited songbook performed on the tour - it is essential listening.
This show is available on iTunes under the album title
Coltranology Volume One.
Playlist and notes for the BurningDervish.com Podcast episode
"The Majesty of King Tubby"
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Subscribe to all episodes | Subscribe in iTunesIf King Tubby did not invent dub, it hardly matters who did. With hundreds, or even thousands, of sides standing witness to his wizardry, he elevated the form to an exalted level.
Jamaican dub of the roots reggae era is the direct antecedent of modern remix culture, which spans music, the visual arts, and even high technology. For the purposes here, it is dub's immediate effect on the brain that is most impressive...
- Gorgon Version by Cornell Campbell & The Aggravators from King Tubby's in Fine Style
- Shooter Dub by King Tubby from Down Santic Way: Santic's Jamaican Productions 1973-1975
- Corner Crew Dub by Augustus Pablo from King Tubbys Meets Rockers Uptown
- King Tubby's Borderline Dub by King Tubby & Augustus Pablo from Dub Chill Out
- Shaolin Temple Dub by Barrington Levy from In Dub: The Lost Mixes from King Tubby's Studio
- King Tubby Dub by King Tubby from 400% Dynamite!
- Free Africa by Horace Andy from King Tubby Meets the Reggae Masters
- Dub Is My Woman by Larry Marshall from I Admire You (In Dub)
- That's Life/Life Time Dub by Ronnie Davis/King Tubby & Aggrovators from a rip of Clocktower 7" CT 735
- Jah Children Rise/Rising Dub by Earl Sixteen & The Heptones/King Tubby from a rip of a Trench Town 10"
- South Africa/From Cape To Cairo (extended) by Mighty Travellers/King Tubby from a rip of a Pressure Sounds 7"
As always, if you dig the music in this podcast, please support the artists by buying their music and where possible, going to see them live. Thanks.
Enjoy. And let me know what you think. And until next time...Peace.
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