Crescent cover
Released

Released six months before A Love Supreme, this is a subdued and profoundly beautiful album. The title piece became a live favorite (after revamping his band, Coltrane recorded a 55-minute version in Japan) but here it’s a meditative theme and a source for heartfelt soloing. “Wise One” might be his most beautiful ballad ever. After a brief interlude (“Bessie’s Blues”), Coltrane gives the album’s second half over to the rhythm section — Jimmy Garrison gets a long solo on “Lonnie’s Lament,” and “The Drum Thing” lives up to its title.

Phil Freeman

Recommended by

Suggestions
Back East cover

Back East

Joshua Redman
Black Woman cover

Black Woman

Sonny Sharrock
Jazz in Silhouette cover

Jazz in Silhouette

Sun Ra & His Arkestra
Mingus at Monterey cover

Mingus at Monterey

Charles Mingus
Picture Music cover

Picture Music

Klaus Schulze
Town Hall 1972 cover

Town Hall 1972

Anthony Braxton
Starship Africa cover

Starship Africa

Creation Rebel
Poof cover

Poof

Henry Threadgill
Lune Rouge cover

Lune Rouge

Erik Truffaz