Dakar (24bt) (Jpn)

For several reasons, Dakar occupies a sweet spot in John Coltrane s discography of the 1950s. The album places him in the context of two other saxophonists, baritone players, Cecil Payne and Pepper Adams, and a rhythm section comprised of Prestige all-stars Mal Waldron on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Art Taylor on drums. The setting yields tough-and-lovely ensemble work on almost every tune. In addition, the selection of material could serve as a template for how to wed adventurous improvising to unequivocal swing in the heady heyday of post-bop jazz. And the name of the album, like the title track, seems to presage the increasingly strong pull musical, social, and spiritual that the African continent would exert upon Coltrane from the late 1950s until his death in 1967. Dakar is a gem in the Coltrane discography. This memorable jazz album is now available again on 120 gram vinyl for the music collector and Coltrane fan.