Time for a bona fide jazz classic, an album aficionados always mention alongside Kind Of Blue and Keith Jarrett's Köln Concert. I've had this for some time, and haven't really listened to it enough.
From the beginning, Coltrane just makes the saxophone sing on the first part, Acknowledgment, which famously concludes with Coltrane chanting the album title. Part two, Resolution, starts with a soft piano piece before Coltrane comes in, far more upbeat than the first part.
Part three, Pursuance, flows along jauntily again, with sax and piano (McCoy Tyner) until and unnecessary drum solo at the seven minute mark (tautology alert - all drum solos are unnecessary). I feel similarly about the bass solo which concludes the piece. part four, Psalm, opens with Coltrane riffing over some grand tympani work, until some piano steps in underneath. It's one of those tunes where you feel you're listening to the intro, waiting for the main theme to kick in, then after five minutes you realise this is the main theme, leaving me feeling underwhelmed.
There is much on this album that is lovely and beautiful, particularly in the first half, but for me it doesn't have the impact of the other 'jazz classics'. Sorry, hep cats.
3* - some moments of true beauty, but these aren't sustained through the whole work
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