Personnel: John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Red Garland (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Arthur Taylor (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on March 26, 1958. Originally released on Prestige (7213). Includes original liner notes by Joe Goldberg and Doug Ramsey.

Digitally remastered by Kirk Felton (1987, Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California).

Personnel: John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Red Garland (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); Arthur Taylor (drums).

Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey on March 26, 1958. Originally released on Prestige (7213).

Digitally remastered using XRCD technology.

This is Coltrane from the period when he was a member of Miles Davis' legendary 1950s quintet, accompanied by fellow quintet members Garland and Chambers. This is 'Trane in a relaxed bop mode, making some swinging relaxed jazz in the vein of Sonny Rollins and Stan Getz (the latter in his more bop-ish mode). This is not the fire-breathing saxophonist of the middle '60s, but a player who was beginning to push against the boundaries, all the while playing with thoughtful, imaginative lyricism. It's a set of little-known pop tunes of the era, with the exception of Jackie McLean's "Little Melonae." Anyone who likes/loves the mainstream jazz of the '50s, or Miles' music of that time, and/or Coltrane fans who want/need to hear their idol in an easy-going context should pick up on this.

Q (7/99, p.133) - 3 stars (out of 5) - "...there was an almost magestic quality to [Coltrane's] tone. This accomplished quartet date was the sound of a musician raising the very game of jazz, bringing exciting complexity and power to the music..."