Legacy [Box set]

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There have been numerous John Coltrane introductions, surveys, and best-ofs through the years, but never one quite like Legacy. It draws on Coltrane's recordings for several labels--including Prestige, Blue Note, and Atlantic, as well as Impulse!--and as a result it's able to present both his early and his late work. Further, it's a four-CD set, its length affording the scale that Coltrane's work demands. There are some brilliant sideman performances with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk (the standout "Trinkle, Tinkle"), as well as essential tracks from early recordings like "Lazy Bird."

Selected and sequenced by Coltrane's son, saxophonist Ravi Coltrane, the set takes a gently theoretical approach to Coltrane's music, with each CD a chronological journey through a different aspect of his music. Disc one emphasizes Coltrane's approaches to harmony and melody; disc two features his innovative approach to rhythm. Disc three concentrates on the creative relationship between Coltrane and drummer Elvin Jones, while disc four is a collection of bristling live performances. Along the way one hears many of Coltrane's greatest performances: the accelerated chordal improvisation of "Giant Steps," the wailing soprano saxophone of "My Favorite Things," the blistering tenor of "Impressions," the virtuoso cadenza of "I Want to Talk About You," and the lyrical majesty of "Wise One."

There's room here for contrasting versions of "Impressions," "Naima," and "Nature Boy" that demonstrate Coltrane's gifts for transforming his most familiar material. There's also an unissued live version of "One Up, One Down" and some examples of the demanding music of Coltrane's final years. It's a brilliant selection, revealing both the depth and breadth of an always-impassioned musical genius. --Stuart Broomer

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