Personnel: John Coltrane (soprano & tenor saxophones); Eric Dolphy (alto saxophone); McCoy Tyner (piano); Reggie Workman, Jimmy Garrison (bass); Roy Haynes (drums).

Producer: Bob Thiele.

Reissue producer: Michael Cuscuna.

Recorded live at the Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, Rhode Island on July 7, 1963 and The Village Vanguard, New York, New York on November 2, 1961. Includes liner notes by John Coltrane, Roy Haynes and Francis Davis.

Digitally remastered by Robert Stoughton (MCA Music Media Studios).

This live date from the summer of 1963 preceded the more famous COLTRANE LIVE AT BIRDLAND by some four months, and is a powerful evocation of the John Coltrane Quartet's brand of interplay, albeit with one significant difference--drummer Roy Haynes is subbing for Elvin Jones. Haynes' unique style of accenting the groove made the Boston native a familiar face to modern jazz fans, since he had enlivened the bands of Lester Young, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk and Sarah Vaughn. In many ways, Haynes' brand of independence and four-way coordination was a precursor to Jones' later innovations. As a result, he was Coltrane's first-call sub, and he allows the music to happen in a manner similar to Elvin, but with his own unique twist.

On a very rigorous rendition of "My Favorite Things," Haynes' brighter, tighter tuning allows him to ennunciate his dancing snare triplets in a more unequivocal manner than Jones. Listen to the difference this makes in Tyner's phrases, which are shorter and more jagged than usual. Trane's soprano ecstasy also seems to transform the drummer, who ranges all over the kit to match the saxophonist's billowing intensity.

"I Want To Talk About You" is an important complement to Trane's later, more celebrated version at the Village Gate. The intense version of "Impressions" culminates in a wild, extended duet between Haynes and the saxophonist, wherein Trane pushes this great drummer to the outer limits of his endurance and creativity. Finally, there's yet another tune from the fruitful November 2, 1961 gig (documented on LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD), as Eric Dolphy joins on "Chasin' Another Trane." Haynes sits in on Elvin's kit, and it's fascinating to hear how he adjusts to the darker sounding kit and how soulfully he interacts with Trane, Dolphy and bassist Reggie Workman on this extended modern blues.

Q (10/93, pp.118-119) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...A valuable reissue of unusual selection..."