John Coltrane - Ole Coltrane: Rhino High Fidelity (Numbered Limited Edition 180g Vinyl LP) * * *

John Coltrane Ole Coltrane Reissued as Part of the Rhino High Fidelity Series on Numbered Limited Edition 180g LP: Cut from the Original Stereo Master Tapes by Kevin Gray, Pressed at Optimal, Features an Exclusive Insert with Notes by Ashley Kahn

The complicated rhythm patterns and diverse sonic textures on Olé Coltrane are evidence that John Coltrane was once again charting his own course. His sheer ability as a maverick — beyond his appreciable musical skills — guides works such as this to new levels, ultimately advancing the entire art form.

John Coltrane's final album for Atlantic bookends the exploratory motifs he explores on his Impulse! debut, Africa/Brass, recorded concurrently, with each involving knotty rhythmic shifts and Spanish-derived textures. Bonding with an amazing band that includes pianist McCoy Tyner, drummer Elvin Jones, and an uncredited Eric Dolphy (due to contractual reasons), Coltrane welcomes improvisations and ranging outside conventional parameters, all the while retaining melodic beauty.

Yet the biggest attraction on the 1961 effort comes via the double-bass interplay between Art Davis and Reggie Workman, whose back-and-forth exchanges produce heat and cause the leader to up his own game.

To ensure consistent sonic excellence, Kevin Gray cut the lacquers and Optimal pressed the 180-gram vinyl. This release boasts high-quality glossy covers and “tip-on” jackets, an old-school aesthetic that evokes the golden age of vinyl.