Lush Life (1958) is among
John Coltrane's best endeavors on the Prestige label. One reason can easily be attributed to the interesting personnel and the subsequent lack of a keyboard player for the August 16, 1957 session that yielded the majority of the material.
Coltrane (tenor sax) had to essentially lead the compact trio of himself,
Earl May (bass), and
Art Taylor (drums). The intimate setting is perfect for ballads such as the opener "Like Someone in Love."
Coltrane doesn't have to supplement the frequent redundancy inherent in pianists, so he has plenty of room to express himself through simple and ornate passages. Unifying the slippery syncopation and slightly Eastern feel of "I Love You" is the tenor's prevalent capacity for flawless, if not downright inspired on-the-spot "head" arrangements that emerge singular and clear, never sounding preconceived. Even at an accelerated pace, the rhythm section ably prods the backbeat without interfering. A careful comparison will reveal that "Trane's Slo Blues" is actually a fairly evident derivation (or possibly a different take) of "Slowtrane." But don't let the title fool you as the mid-tempo blues is undergirded by a lightheartedness.
May provides a platform for
Coltrane's even keeled runs before the tenor drops out, allowing both
May and then
Taylor a chance to shine. The fun cat-and-mouse-like antics continue as
Taylor can be heard encouraging the tenor player to raise the stakes and the tempo -- which he does to great effect.
The practically quarter-hour reading of
Billy Strayhorn's "Lush Life" is not only the focal point of this album, it is rightfully considered as one of
Coltrane's unqualified masterworks. The performance hails from January 10, 1958 as
Coltrane sits in with
Red Garland (piano),
Donald Byrd (trumpet),
Paul Chambers (bass), and
Louis Hayes (drums).
Coltrane handles the tune's delicate complexities with infinite style and finesse.
Garland similarly sparkles at the 88s, while
Byrd's solo offers a bit of a tonal alternative. It should be noted that the reading here does not include a vocal from
Johnny Hartman. That version can be found on the ever imaginatively monikered John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman (1963). ~ Lindsay Planer