The John Coltrane Quartet – Africa/Brass

John Coltrane’s incandescent 1961 classic, Africa/Brass was recorded by the legendary Rudy Van Gelder, produced by Bob Thiele, and is a showcase for bold, fearless and visionary music.  It was recorded during a period where many African countries were becoming independent, and African music and art were becoming better known in America, though not as well known in European colonial powers like France, Belgium, or England.

Africa/Brass was Coletrane’s monumental debut for Impulse! Records — a sonic manifesto that shattered the boundaries of hard bop to reveal something primal and sophisticated. Under the visionary arrangements of Eric Dolphy and McCoy Tyner, the ensemble creates a dense, shimmering “drone” — a revolutionary harmonic foundation that allows Coltrane to soar. His playing is more than skillful; it’s athletic.

Coltrane’s working quartet is augmented by a larger ensemble that brings the total to 21 musicians. Its big band sound, with the unusual instrumentation of French horns and euphonium, presented music very different from anything that had been associated with Coltrane to date. The interlocking brass lines move with the clockwork accuracy of a chamber orchestra, but breathe with the sweat and soul of a midnight jam session.