Ok, so this is not a journey into the unknown but rather the presentation of albums that are as good as 'Blue Train', 'Giant Steps' or 'A love supreme' but don't get as much attention because they were not as influential.

They deserve more attention, though, and that is exactly the whole purpose of this thread (I hope that somebody will read it...)

Crescent (1964) was released shortly before "A love supreme" but at that time nobody could have possibly known that, of course. I'd say that it's just as spiritually advanced, just as thoroughly enjoyable and just as aesthetically beautiful as the incredibly famous successor and never got half as much attention although nobody would really call it a bad or mediocre album.

"Crescent" contains 5 Coltrane originals played by the classic Coltrane quartet, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones accompany him in the usual style. The title track, clocking in at around 9 minutes, establishes the mood of the record which is spiritual and roots-oriented. It's possibly one of the most beautiful themes ever written by Trane and reminds me strongly of Waldron's compositions. The introduction is typically Coltrane though and the improvisation represents all the quartet's trademark qualities. "Wise One", the second track, is even more meditative, lushly flowing around modal changes that are played out slowly in this tentative ballad. The more famous pieces that have become standards are soon to follow: "Bessie's Blues" is a very unusual exploration of a standard 12bar, unusual in the fragmentary nature of its theme. Compare this to "The Theme" off "Blue Train" and you get a hunch of Coltrane's musical development in only 7 years! "Lonnie's Lament" is a 3/4 theme forced into a 4/4 form and thus revealing a touch of folk music that could be Celtic or, more specifically, Irish. The improvisation neglects the lamento character of the piece but still doesn't fail to astonish; it's just very different from the main chorus. Finally, "The Drum Thing" borders - very unlikely if you consider the hard boppish title - on esoteric spirituality and showcases Coltrane going Oriental. The melody lines are softly floating around improbable scales and thus creating a very specific mood making "The Drum Thing" incomparable to any other Trane composition.

"Crescent" is an astonishing record and at the end of the day it may be one of my 3 favourite Coltrane records. What do you think of it?

I acquired quite a lot of jazz music in a rather short period of time.
As is usual under these circumstances, I am still working at actually gettin acquainted with all these albums.
It's probably no suprise either that, in general terms, during the initial phase I spend more time listening to 'classic' albums - in Trane's case Blue train, Giant Steps, A love supreme.

Until now, Crescent hasn't been played a lot.
I'm going to try to listen to it a few times during this week and make an effort at writing something about it.
Though I will probably only manage to come up with a rather one-dimensional judgement since I sadly lack any knowledge of musical theory that would allow me to listen with more analytic and comprehensive ears.

Yeah its okay.

Tiny, I'd be curious to know what you think of 'Offering' from Stellar Regions.

Just finished listening to the title track - incredibly sad and beautiful - and the second track just starting off in a similar vein - dunno how long I haven't listened to this; it's very nice.

An incredible record!!! I feel like shit tonight and am just getting drunk (with a very nice Rioja) and this music is so beautifully sad and if I go on like this I'm gonna end up posting like GypsyDaisy and so I'm gonna stop now.

OK, tune #3 is a bit more upbeat. Good.

Rioja! God, I would love a bottle of that right about now!
Coltrane and good bottle red wine ... after that, like him, I would also believe in all religions!

The Rioja is courtesy of the old ladies in one of the English courses I teach at the Community Adult Education Centre. They come as much for entertainment and company as for English and I have a lot of fun with them.

I can even play them some Dylan now and then - they only were cross with me when I played the Grand Coulee Dam recording from the 1968 Woody Guthrie tribute - they absolutely hated that.

Anyway, for Christmas and for the end of the summer semester I always get a lovely crate of wine from them.

Cheers to them!

@powerpete: Rioja is a good choice. Always is.

@tosswood: What's okay? The album?

Live in Japan (1966) can easily be called a less known Coltrane album because there are pretty few people who actually sat through the whole 4 cds. Doing it is very rewarding though and 'Live in Japan' offers a glimpse into the strange LSD world of Trane just before he left our world behind.

The first CD contains the Santamaria classic 'Afro Blue', rambling on for some 39 minutes and preparing the listener for what is yet to come. The second piece is a rather unknown Coltrane original called 'Peace on earth', very similar in style to his meditations.

The second CD contains only 'Crescent', stretching out over 54 minutes during which Pharoah and Trane literally blow themselves into high heavens. If you thought that 'Karma' was wild you should listen to this. Alice Coltrane delivers a rather obscure piano accompaniment and the piece, originally an ouverture for the album of the same name, is facing some serious deconstruction here.

On the third CD there's another rendition of 'Peace on earth' (completely different from the first one) and another less known Coltrane original called 'Leo'.

The second gem, however, is the 57 minute version of 'My favourite things' on the 4th CD - this track comprises Coltrane's development over the years and is really worth your time.

4 hours of Coltrane and Sanders screeching at the top of their lungs and the record is still recommendable? If you have never learned to enjoy 'Ascension' this 4cd set may be either another reason to hate the late Trane or it may actually help you appreciate his obscure latter-day approach. Either way it's a nice opportunity to hear Trane play alto!

So what is it with very late Coltrane? I can't make up my mind about Ascension. I've made some very serious attempts at listening, and I think I've found some moments of incredible beauty hidden in there, but at a certain point I'm lost and start thinking 'well, what about some Mozart now...?' (and I don't think that very often...)

This might be interesting for you if you don't have it, Tiny:

http://nightofthepurplemoon.blogspot.com/2009/07/john-coltrane-live-at-temple-university.html

I bought Meditations 3 or 4 weeks ago and was quite blown away by Pharaoh Sanders playing on that album.
Live in Japan sounds like an intriguing album, I'll look out for it.

I believe Stan once told he used to play it in his record store when he wanted the last customers to leave.

Sitting through Ascension can be very demanding indeed.
But I do like quite some of the playing on it and have the feeling that I will grow to live it more and more as times goes by.