Transcendence

John Coltrane's 1961 to 1963 European tours have been available in various set configurations on numerous albums over the years, some legally licensed and some not. As a rule, these are fine shows, and this sequence (which may or may not be from a Stockholm show in 1961) is particularly well recorded, and every instrument, including McCoy Tyner's piano (which gets lost or buried in the more poorly recorded shows), is clearly audible. Over the years this same set has been released several times under different titles, including as Transcendence on Summit Records in 1961, as John Coltrane on Bluenite Records in 1962, as Impressions in Blue on Mastersound in 2000 and as Traneing In on United Audio in 2005. These are generally budget releases, and fans of Coltrane's classic quartet with Tyner, Elvin Jones on drums, and Jimmy Garrison on bass will find this set not only affordable but enjoyable, as well, if not exactly essential.

—Steve Leggett