John Coltrane Live In Berlin November 2nd 1963

Featuring Coltrane’s classic quartet (McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones), this live show during the legendary 1963 European Tour, is a fairly typical example of the incredible strength of the group at the time. As with most of his live dates, Coltrane turns in extended explorations on all the selections, also leaving plenty of room for pianist Tyner to stretch out on more straightforward, but equally challenging solos. Drummer Jones matches the intensity of Coltrane’s solo flights with propulsive and sensitive rhythmic support, while bassist Garrison anchors the proceedings with his steady and somewhat mercurial basslines. During the period when the shows was recorded, Coltrane was playing at an amazingly high level, with masterworks like A Love Supreme and Crescent just around the corner. The blend of freedom, energy, and formality in his solos make live recordings from this time a good bet for newcomers to Coltrane’s work.