Ballads

In 1962, John Coltrane was facing attacks from conservative critics who had dismissed his tumultuous, extended performances as “anti-jazz”. In response, he headed into the studio and made Ballads, a classic set that gathers both well-known and more obscure material.

Coltrane was one of jazz’s great ballad players, and that side of his artistry can sometimes get lost in the noise that surrounded his work at the time. Here, his lyrical gifts come through with real clarity, carried by one of the most beautiful tones in jazz, something so distinctive it feels like a rare metal newly brought to light.

The material also brings out the best in pianist McCoy Tyner, who is given plenty of room throughout. His harmonic subtlety and limpid grace are a huge part of what makes this record so enduring.