Recorded in 1960 and released in 1962, Coltrane Plays The Blues is perhaps a misleading title as Trane is not so much playing the blues as bringing the feeling of blues into the idiom of jazz. This memorable release, featuring McCoy Tyner on piano, Elvin Jones on drums and Steve Davis on bass, hails from Coltrane's first period as leader of his own quartet, and finds the music legend playing then highly unusual soprano saxophone on two numbers - "Blues To Bechet," a pianoless tribute to the great Sydney Bechet, and "Mr. Syms," where Tyner is given the opportunity to really show his stuff, which he does so masterfully.
Musicians:
John Coltrane, soprano & tenor saxophone
McCoy Tyner, piano
Steve Davis, bass
Elvin Jones, drums
A1 Blues To Elvin 7:52
B1 Blues To Bechet 5:44
B2 Blues To You 6:25
C1 Mr. Day 7:56
D1 Mr. Syms 5:19
D2 Mr. Knight 7:30