Ballads: John Coltrane (Deluxe Ed) (Bonus CD)
In 1962, John Coltrane found himself at the center of a storm of  controversy, his tumultuous, searching music branded "anti-jazz" by one virulent  critic. While Coltrane would continue along that exploratory path for the  remaining years of his career, part of his response to the critical venom was to  record some of the most sweetly lyrical music in jazz history. The LPBalladsestablished him as one of the great lyric players and set the  tone for his collaborations withJohnny HartmanandDuke Ellington. The first  CD presents the original album in all its luminous glory, the burnished, silvery  sound of Coltrane's tenor meticulously remastered by the original engineer, Rudy  Van Gelder. The second CD presents supplementary material from the original  sessions as well as material that has only recently come to light. The classic  quartet's collective concentration shows in seven complete takes of "It's Easy  to Remember," testing its melody again and again until every gesture--from the  flute-like tenor sound to Jimmy Garrison's bowed bass andElvin Jones's triumphant  drum crescendo at the conclusion--is sculpted to perfection. There are also  several takes of the airy "Greensleeves" and a limpidly beautiful version of  "They Say It's Wonderful" with Coltrane in duet with pianistMcCoy Tyner.--Stuart  Broomer