Evenings At The Village Gate
Impulse!, 2023
8/10
Listen to Evenings At The Village Gate
Recorded in 1961 during John Coltrane’s residency at The Village Gate, these never before heard recordings bring two of the most legendary artists in the area of jazz for the 5 involved pieces that also hosts McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman, Art Davis and Elvin Jones.
“My Favorite Things” opens the set with Dolphy’s meticulous flute playing alongside Jones’ frisky drums and Coltrane’s well timed sax for the unpredictable 16 minutes, and “When Lights Are Low” follows with Dolphy handling clarinet amid Workman’s playfully plucked bass.
In the middle, “Impressions” spotlights Coltrane’s stunning brass prowess as the rhythm section unleashes a furious display, while “Greensleeves” benefits much from Tyner’s precise piano playing that complements the busy yet controlled climate.
“Climate” finishes the listen with a dizzying execution with Dolphy on alto sax, Coltrane on soprano sax, and Art Davis on bass for the unique and dreamy exploration of timeless jazz.
No one is going to complain about 80 minutes of lost music from Coltrane, and this documents the only performances of the Village Gate collaborations with Dolphy, who passed away 3 years later. A must for fans of Coltrane, the packaging includes insightful words from Workman, the recording engineer Rich Alderson, Branford Marsalis and Lakecia Benjamin.
Travels well with: Charles Mingus- Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus; Max Roach- We Insist!