Live Trane: The European Tours 1961-1963 [Box set, Live, Original recording remastered]

I totally disagree with some of the previous reviews. These are amongst Coltrane's finest recordings. Coltrane, more than perhaps any other musician, was all about playing live- in fact his studio efforts attempted to capture a sense of spontaneity that they only sometimes achieved. One reviewer mentioned the sound quality was poor- I have had some of these recordings on previous pressings and the improvement is incredibly dramatic. True this does not sound like a modern live recording-but the beauty of his tone, and the urgency of his playing come through loud and clear. Here you get to hear many versions of the same tune that are COMPLETELY different. There are very few Coltrane solos on this recording that are not astounding. Also, you have the best version of Naima- the one where Eric Dolphy plays a tremendously haunting bass clarinet solo. I have most of the Coltrane box sets, and this is my favorite. This music captures a period of time for Coltrane when his playing was searching but still melodically centered- thus, it is adventurous while still being something you will listen to frequently. Highly recommended.

Here is a real treasure.And it's mostly made of unissued tracks!!! Recorded between November 18,1961 and November 2,1963,these outstanding concerts (in Paris,Stockholm,Berlin and Hamburg) are among Coltrane's finest works,even if the quality of sound isn't as good as the Impulse studio sessions ones.But Trane is free to blow on "Mr P.C." for eighteen minutes,or on "my favorite things" for 23 minutes;in fact,John Coltrane's music is by far more ferocious and adventurous here than in the studio sessions recorded at the same time.Not so far from the "live in Seattle",or the "live in japan" Impulse recordings.
Backed by McCoy Tyner,piano,Eric Dolphy,alto sax,flute,bass clarinet,Reggie Workman or Jimmy Garrison,bass,and the prodigious Elvin Jones on drums,Trane plays incendiary choruses on his actual repertoire: "my favorite things","Mr P.C.","impressions","Naima","chasin' the Trane","the promise"...
The intensity of this music is such than it's very difficult to find words to describe it.Of course,you'll listen to five versions of "my favorite things",or "impressions",or "Mr P.C.",four of "Naima",but you won't be bored;each version is so different from the other ones that you'll find treasures in each one.There is also the most magnificent version of "Spiritual" Coltrane ever recorded;a somptuous version of "Afro blue";the haunting "Lonnie's lament",one of Trane's most beautiful tunes;and hours and hours of some of the most joyful,sensual,essential music of the past century.This 7 CD set is one of the most important issues of the past decade,and an essential milestone in JOohn Coltrane's recorded works.Beeing a Coltrane addict,it seems impossible to miss it.Here are hours of treasures,hours of one of the most fascinating music of all times.

The music on this cd is just an incredible representation of the intensity that Coltrane brought to the bandstand. When my roomate brought this box set back from the library, I was in a state of complete shock. The sound quality is great, the playing is phenomenal as should be expected, and the set really offers a window into what it would be like to see Coltrane on the road. On every single disc, Coltrane brings the same level of intensity that you would expect from him if it was the last concert of his life. Go get this, and enjoy.