The Paris Concert - John Coltrane (1LP Vinyl)

The Paris Concert by John Coltrane.

There are recordings, and then there are documents of a band operating at the height of its powers, captured in a single evening. "The Paris Concert" belongs firmly in the second category, a snapshot of John Coltrane and his classic quartet on the stage of the Salle Pleyel in Paris on November 1, 1962. This is the sound of one of the most celebrated ensembles in jazz history working through a live set, with all the risk, momentum, and communication that only a concert setting can bring.

The lineup here is the quartet that would come to define an era. Coltrane on tenor saxophone leads, backed by McCoy Tyner on piano, Jimmy Garrison on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. That rhythm section had a language all its own, a churning, propulsive interplay that gave Coltrane the ground to push against and the freedom to soar. Listening to these four musicians think together in real time is the great pleasure of this record.

Side A opens with "Mr. P.C.," Coltrane's blues dedicated to bassist Paul Chambers, and it is a fitting showcase for the group's forward drive. The tune has long been a proving ground for Coltrane's improvisational imagination, and in a live setting it stretches and breathes, with Tyner and Jones fanning the flames beneath the leader's tenor.

The flip side turns to a different kind of expression. "The Inch Worm," a piece drawn from popular song, becomes something entirely Coltrane's own in his hands, its melody repeated and transformed against the steady pulse of the quartet. The set closes with "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye," the Cole Porter standard rendered as a ballad feature, where Coltrane's tone reveals its tenderness and lyricism, a reminder that his fire was always matched by an equal capacity for beauty.

The package itself reflects the care taken in bringing this concert to vinyl. Cover photography comes from Roberto Polillo, with layout and design by Norman Granz and Sheldon Marks, and liner notes by Ed Michel that set the scene for the listener. The runouts are etched, a small detail that collectors of pressings of this vintage will appreciate.

For anyone drawn to Coltrane's live work, "The Paris Concert" offers a concise and powerful glimpse of the quartet abroad, three performances that move from blues to ballad and back. It is an inviting entry point and a rewarding listen for the devoted, a record that rewards the needle drop and the quiet attention it deserves.

Pressing Details:
Track Listing:
A1. Mr. P.C.
B1. The Inch Worm
B2. Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye

Credits:
Jimmy Garrison - Bass
Elvin Jones - Drums
Norman Granz - Layout, Design
Sheldon Marks - Layout, Design
Ed Michel - Liner Notes
Roberto Polillo - Photography By [Cover Photo]
McCoy Tyner - Piano
John Coltrane - Tenor Saxophone

Notes:
Recorded at the Salle Pleyel, Paris, November 1, 1962

Runouts are etched.

Artist: John Coltrane

Format: 1LP

Genre: Jazz

Label: Pablo Live

Catalog Number: 2308 217

Release Year: 2015

Country: United States

Condition: Sealed (New)