The Best of John Coltrane

This year marks the centennial of John Coltrane, whose groundbreaking artistry as a saxophonist, composer, and band leader made him one of the most influential musical figures of the 20^th century. To honor his immeasurable impact, Craft Recordings looks back at Coltrane’s earliest days as a leader with a curated collection of originals and standards. Produced with the full support of the John Coltrane Estate, The Best of John Coltrane draws from the saxophonist’s 1957–1958 sessions—a period of rapid artistic evolution as he established his sound. These defining recordings—including “Traneing In,” “Theme for Ernie,” and “Trinkle, Tinkle” (with Thelonious Monk)—helped cement Coltrane’s legacy as an innovative force in jazz music.

A perfect introduction for new listeners and a prized acquisition for aficionados, The Best of John Coltrane arrives March 13^th exclusively on vinyl. In addition to a classic black pressing, the album can also be found in two limited-edition variants: a Baby Blue LP (only at Books-a-Million) and a Violet LP (Barnes & Noble).

A giant in the modern musical landscape, John Coltrane (1926 – 1967) transformed the sound of jazz as a saxophonist, leader, and composer. The pioneering artist established himself in the mid-50s, playing as a sideman for the likes of Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, and, most prominently, Miles Davis. Then, in 1957, he took his career to the next level, signing with Prestige Records to record his first albums as a leader. These formative sessions—captured primarily in Rudy Van Gelder’s famed Hackensack Studio between 1957-58—found Coltrane coming into his own, as he developed his rapid-fire “Sheets of Sound” improvisational style.

Another high-profile collaboration showcased here is with legendary pianist Thelonious Monk, with whom Coltrane famously performed during a storied six-month residency at New York’s Five Spot Café. The Monk-penned “Trinkle, Tinkle” was recorded with bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Shadow Wilson and released on the 1961 Jazzland title, Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane.

This period also found the horn player putting his inimitable touch on a variety of standards from the Great American Songbook, including the Baker/Fragos/Gasparre hit, “I Hear a Rhapsody” (featuring Garland, Chambers, and drummer Albert Heath) and Cole Porter’s “I Love You,” (with Taylor and bassist Earl May) both of which appeared on 1961’s Lush Life. Another highlight is the Romberg/Hammerstein classic “Lover Come Back to Me,” performed exquisitely by Garland, Chambers, Taylor, and trumpeter Donald Byrd, from Coltrane’s 1964 album, Black Pearls.

By the turn of the ’60s, the virtuosic musician was already shifting his approach—moving away from the densely packed “Sheets of Sound” style and toward the more open, exploratory language of modal improvisation. Yet, these early sessions remain an important chapter in Coltrane’s artistic evolution, capturing the innovative artist on the cusp of fame, while laying the groundwork for the even more revolutionary work that followed.

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