Seven John Coltrane Albums Reissued This Month

John Coltrane aficionados are in for a treat this month. Verve Records' Impulse imprint is reissuing five classic Coltrane albums and Rhino Records is reissuing two.

All of the Impulse CDs have been remastered, and feature the original cover art and liner notes, as well as new liner notes and photography. Two of the Impulse re-issues, "Ascension" and "Impressions," are seminal works, both of which earned five-star reviews in Downbeat when released over 30 years ago.

Coltrane was not particularly impressed with the released version of 1966's "Ascension," and subsequent album pressings had the "alternative" version, which has become the most familiar to his fans. On this reissue, however, both versions are included for the first time.

"Impressions" was a collection of sides from 1961-63. The reissue includes one bonus track, "Dear Old Stockholm."

The three other Impulse releases are the spiritual "Kulu Se Mama" and the astrologically inspired "Interstellar Space," both from 1967, and the 1965 live album "New Thing at Newport."

"Kulu Se Mama" contains three bonus tracks--two of which have appeared on Coltrane collections, one of which was previously unreleased. "Interstellar Space" contains two bonus tracks from the CD "Jupiter Variation" as well as the previously unissued, incomplete version of "Jupiter Variation." "New Thing at Newport," recorded at the Newport Jazz Festival, is a curiosity at best, and Coltrane is heard on only two selections.

The two new Rhino reissues are 1961's "Coltrane Jazz," with four bonus tracks, and 1966's "The Avant Garde," a straight bonus-free reissue.

In September, Rhino will release 1962's "Coltrane Plays the Blues" with four bonus tracks and 1962's "Ole Coltrane" as a straight reissue.