John Coltrane Quartet: John Coltrane (soprano & tenor saxophones); McCoy Tyner (piano); Jimmy Garrison (bass); Elvin Jones (drums).

Producer: Bob Thiele.

Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey on April 11, June 19, 20 & 29 and September 18, 1962. Includes liner notes by Bob Thiele and Michael Cuscuna.

Digitally remastered using 20-bit technology by Erick Labson (MCA Music Media Studios).

John Coltrane's Impulse years were the most prolific of his career. His classic quartet recorded volumes of material that dwarfed the output of Miles Davis' legendary group of the same period. This album from 1962, simply titled COLTRANE, is lesser known than works like A LOVE SUPREME or CRESCENT but holds many treasures nonetheless.

The epic first cut "Out Of This World" is a stand-alone masterpiece that would amount to an album's worth of output for nearly any other artist. Here Coltrane releases a tidal wave of emotion as he transcends the concept of musicmaking and opens his very soul through sound. His powerful tenor blows and wails over Elvin Jones' churning rhythms in a mesmerizing, spiritual dance. The delicate ballad "Soul Eyes" is a beautiful contrast before heading into the delightful bounce of "The Inch Worm." The moody "Tunji" and 'Trane's tribute to his former boss, "Miles Mode," provide more evidence of this group's legendary expressive abilities. Finally, the short bonus tracks "Big Nick" and "Up 'Gainst The Wall" are excellent performances but are not unlike trying cap a geyser. The power of this group cannot be contained by time.