Black Pearls
| Black Pearls | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio albumby | ||||
| Released | August 1964 | |||
| Recorded | May 23, 1958 | |||
| Studio | Van Gelder Studio,Hackensack | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Length | 38:53 | |||
| Label | Prestige PRLP 7316 | |||
| Producer | Bob Weinstock | |||
| John Coltranechronology | ||||
| ||||
Black Pearlsis a studio album by Americanjazz musicianJohn Coltrane,released in 1964 onPrestige Records.It was recorded at a single recording session on May 23, 1958, at the studio ofRudy Van GelderinHackensack, New Jersey.[1][2][3]
On that Friday session, "the songs weren't long enough for a whole album", recalled producer Bob Weinstock in 2001, "so I said 'Let's do a slow blues to finish it out'." Coltrane invited Weinstock to write the song on the spot, but he didn't know music, so Coltrane replied "'Just tell me what you want me to play. Should it go like this?' and he would play some notes. After having played a rough melody, he'd say 'Okay, you wrote it.' That was the genesis of 'Sweet Sapphire Blues'".[4]
The title track is a sustained exhibition of Coltrane'ssheets of soundtechnique during his solo.
Reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [5] |
| DownBeat | [6] |
| The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings | [7] |
| The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide | [8] |
In a review forAllMusic,Lindsay Planer stated that the album "captures Coltrane at the height of perfecting the intense volley that would garner the name 'sheets of sound'," but noted that it "seems a bit ambiguous when placed in a more historical context."[5]
DownBeat's Don Nelson wrote: "Despite a commanding technique, [Coltrane] is still not in control." However, his "involvement with his music and instrument is total."[6]
The authors ofThe Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordingsstated that, along withOm,the album is "the drabbest session in the whole Coltrane canon."[7]
Track listing
[edit]Side one
[edit]- "Black Pearls" (Coltrane) – 13:13
- "Lover, Come Back to Me"(Oscar Hammerstein II,Sigmund Romberg) 7:27
Side two
[edit]- "Sweet Sapphire Blues" (Bob Weinstock) – 18:13
Personnel
[edit]- John Coltrane–tenor saxophone
- Donald Byrd–trumpet
- Red Garland–piano
- Paul Chambers–bass
- Art Taylor–drums
References
[edit]- ^"John Coltrane - Black Pearls".Jazz Music Archives.RetrievedApril 18,2023.
- ^"John Coltrane Discography".JazzDisco.org.RetrievedApril 18,2023.
- ^Porter, Lewis; DeVito, Chris; Fujioka, Yasuhiro; Wild, David; Schmaler, Wolf (2008).The John Coltrane Reference.Routledge. p. 522.
- ^2008 liner notes
- ^abBlack PearlsatAllMusic
- ^abNelson, Don."John Coltrane: Black Pearls".DownBeat.RetrievedApril 18,2023.
- ^abCook, Richard;Morton, Brian(2008).The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings(9th ed.).Penguin.p. 293.ISBN978-0-141-03401-0.
- ^Swenson, J., ed. (1985).The Rolling Stone Jazz Record Guide.USA: Random House/Rolling Stone. p. 46.ISBN0-394-72643-X.
