1962 Graz Concert, The (Live/Complete Edition) - John Coltrane Quartet

John Coltrane

Advantages: One of the most talented jazz saxophonists ever!
Disadvantages: Towards the end of his life, his work got more "way out"

John Coltrane is definitely one of the greatest tenor and soprano saxophonists ever, having also written many jazz standards, such as Blue Trane and Impressions. At first, Coltrane started out as a clarinettist, and horn player, but at school he was influenced by hearing players including Lester Young and Johnny Hodges, causing him to switch to alto sax before switching to tenor sax after doing military service during world war two and playing in the U.S. Navy Band. Throughout his life, Coltrane was an alcoholic, and a heroin addict (finally dieing from liver cancer in 1967), but he managed to overcome this, and it was during overcoming his heroin addiction that he wrote perhaps his most important and prolific work - A Love Supreme - a four part work in which Coltrane tried to express his love for and worship of God, with Coltrane ...

poooookie 21.06.2004 · Read full review
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Review of John Coltrane

Coltrane is the man.

Advantages: Some of the all time best jazz saxophone ever.
Disadvantages: Some ommissions.

The Very Best of John Coltrane Some folks in commenting on a previous review wanted me to review some 'hard jazz'; well here goes. This was just one of the 'best of' or 'greatest hits' type albums, of several that have been issues since the great mans death at the tender age of 41. It seems that the saxophone 'greats' die young and tragically; Charlie Parker, Albert Ayler. Although primarily a tenor player, he also played an awful lot of soprano (as on much of this album) and occasionally alto and clarinet, though I've not heard much of this. He was an absolute giant amongst jazz saxophonists, and along with Parker, probably (though in different ways) the most influential saxophonist ever. He played with many of the greats too, in fact some of his collaborations with Miles Davies (trumpet) such as Bye Bye Blackbird, have ...

paulhanton 29.06.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Very Best Of John Coltrane, The - John Coltrane

Ibis Graz - where the smoke gets up your nose

Advantages: Useful location for transport; clean comfortable
Disadvantages: Smoky lobby; over-priced if no offer available

If like me you are the sort of person who prefers to stay in more moderate hotel accommodation in order to have more money to spend on things like eating out (or the purchasing of horrific souvenirs) you may be interested to know that to celebrate their 30th anniversary, some of the brands that fall under the Accor umbrella are offering a limited number of rooms at special rates this year. It does mean that you can't alter your reservation and won't qualify for a refund if you cancel but for those travellers who are willing to risk that, there are bargains to be had. In mid-June we are going to Hanover and have booked a double room in a very central Mercure hotel for just 39 Euro per night and have just stayed in the Ibis Graz, the subject of this review, for 59 Euro for a double room, a saving of some 20 Euro based on two people ...

fizzytom 02.06.2008 · Read full review
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Review of Ibis, Graz