John Coltrane - First Meditations(for quartet)

2021 Japanese CD reissue.

Not released until 1977, the music on First Meditations was the last recording made by the classic John Coltrane Quartet; other slightly later records found the group incorporating additional musicians. Four of the five movements on this release (which are augmented by a lengthier second version of "Joy") would become part of the better-known Meditations album (along with another movement) two-and-a-half months later when tenor saxophonist Pharoah Sanders and drummer Rashied Ali temporarily made the group a sextet. Coltrane (sticking here exclusively to tenor) plays passionately, alternating ferocious explorations with more lyrical sections.

Scott Yanow ~ AllMusicGuide