Essential Albums

These four 1958-59 Prestige albums capture Coltrane during the incredibly prolific period just before he took his "giant steps" to Atlantic and rose to solo stardom. From the delicate moments to the breakneck-pace explosions of jazz genius, the recordings here find a soon-to-be icon discovering his own remarkable voice. Flanked by the likes of Freddie Hubbard, Tommy Flanagan, Red Garland, Donald Byrd, Jimmy Cobb, Paul Chambers and, of course, the great Kenny Burrell, Trane digs into Russian Lullaby; Good Bait; I Hear a Rhapsody; Stardust; Time After Time; Freight Trane; Why Was I Born? ; his stunning journey through Lush Life, and more!