In 1963, John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman's rather conventional and untitled album was released on the legendary and adventurous jazz label Impulse (‘The House That Trane Built’). It was an album full of exciting ballads and was also the first and last collaboration to ever be recorded with Coltrane as bandleader together with a vocalist. In light of what Coltrane had released only a few years prior (the famous ‘Giant Steps’ from that crucial (jazz) year ’59) or later on (‘A Love Supreme’ and ‘Ascension’), this album was a notable interlude. Coltrane's unctuous tenor sax and the exceptionally deep baritone range of Johnny Hartman's vocals (or according to the liner notes “the dark satin lyricism of Hartman”) produced an album full of classic interpretations of standards like ‘Lush Life’, ‘My One And Only Love’ and ‘They Say It’s Wonderful’.

For the 50 year anniversary of Impulse Records, pianist McCoy Tyner (who's been recording for the label right from the '61 start) established a programme based upon the album by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman on which he himself also played. What's more: Tyner is the only surviving member of this session that was recorded entirely with Coltrane's classic quartet (the other members were Elvin Jones and Jimmy Garrison). Tyner will be present with his trio (containing Francisco Mela and Gerald Cannon) and deliberately chose the company of Chris Potter (sax) and José James (who takes on the role of Johnny Hartman). José James – now a regular guest in the AB – has been exploring and updating the rich jazz heritage for a while now. Remember the project with which he visited the AB in ’09, together with Jef Neve: ‘Facing East: The Music Of John Coltrane’. What's more, in ’12 José James will be making a programme for AB that is to focus upon legendary singer Billie Holiday.

‘They Say It’s Wonderful’? No doubt about it

Line up:
McCoy Tyner: piano - Francisco Mela: drums - Gerald Cannon: bass - Chris Potter: sax - José James: vocals

Multimedia presentation Ashley Kahn - 50 years of Impulse
AB is extremely proud to be one of the very few European countries included in celebrating the 50th Anniversary of legendary jazz label Impulse. The ‘A Contemporary Exploration of John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman’ programme with McCoy Tyner and José James has already been announce and now we're able to welcome none less than American journalist and writer Ashley Kahn. Read more ...