John Coltrane Quartet – The 1962 Graz Concert

1962 Graz Concert Review

 

by Thom Jurek

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The complete 1962 Graz Concert by the John Coltrane Quartet is historically noted for one particular item: this recording from the Austrian city contains the only known performance of "Autumn Leaves" by this group. Coltrane played it often during his tenure in Miles Davis' quintet, and in solo performances with pickup bands in Europe earlier, but other than on this occasion, it's nowhere else in his oeuvre. The date has been released either in whole or in part before, back in 1999 on Great Britain's Charly imprint, and part of it appeared on a collection from various European live dates known as Sheets of Sound as well as on a rather dodgy bootleg entitled Spiritual on the Delta imprint. The music is terrific. The eight tracks that cover two discs offer the band the opportunity to really stretch out. This standard is a perfect example as Coltrane switches from tenor to soprano. Elsewhere, such as on "My Favorite Things," "Impressions," and "I Want to Talk About You," you can hear the fullness of the direction the band was heading to, before A Love Supreme was even recorded. There is a beautiful reading of "Every Time We Say Goodbye" and real workouts on "Mr. P.C." and "Bye Bye Blackbird," which clocks in at a whopping 23 minutes. The sound is not improved on this version; if you already have the Charly set, there is no need for a second purchase -- it's radio broadcast quality. If you don't have it, however, and consider yourself a fan, it's available again in the 21st century, so snag it because the performance is dynamite.

Graz, Austria, November 28, 1962

John Coltrane Quartet The 1962 Graz Concert

1.The Inch Worm 0:00 2.Autumn Leaves 11:55 3.Impressions 22:39 4.Mr. P.C. 43:12 5.Every Time We Say Goodbye 1:00:29 6.My Favorite Things 1:06:25 John Coltrane - tenor & soprano saxophone McCoy Tyner - piano Jimmy Garrison - double bass Elvin Jones - drums