Review
In the annals of jazz history, few collaborations have achieved the seamless fusion of instrumental virtuosity and vocal mastery quite like "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman". This 1963 gem, clocking in at a svelte 31 minutes, is the auditory equivalent of a perfectly aged single malt scotch - smooth, complex, and leaving you wanting just one more sip.
The album's creation reads like a jazz fairy tale. Picture, if you will, a reluctant Johnny Hartman, who didn't fancy himself a jazz singer, being swept off his feet by Coltrane's tender saxophone advances. The result? A one-take wonder (well, almost - 'You Are Too Beautiful' needed a second go after Elvin Jones dropped his drumstick, presumably overcome by the sheer beauty of it all).
From the sultry strains of 'My One and Only Love' to the achingly poignant 'Lush Life', inspired by a serendipitous Nat King Cole radio broadcast, this album is a masterclass in musical intimacy. It's as if Coltrane and Hartman are having a heart-to-heart conversation, and we're privileged eavesdroppers. On my patented "Extinct Bird Elegance Scale", I rate this album a solid Dodo - extinct, yes, but forever etched in our collective memory. - Clarence
