Jazz for aficionados

I too am very excited about hearing this new record.  I understand why there may be some skepticism about the importance  of this recording.  However, I have a different take; hence my excitement.  Much of my thinking is based on conjecture, but.......

I cannot believe that ANY recording by Trane with THAT quartet can possibly be second rate.  The one clip that I have heard is anything but second rate.  Every reference that I have read mentions that the master tape was “lost”, and all the commentary by musicians who have heard it in its entirely are positive.  I believe that it is entirely possible that the master tape was lost for the following reasons that a little sleuthing (I love this stuff) suggest might be possible:

- From 1962 to 1964 Trane recorded 14 (!) records; all but two as a leader.  A lot of records.
- From 1962 to 1964 “Impulse” Records released 133 (!!!!) recordings.  
- Yes, Trane had a copy of the master tape.  However, it was not in his possession; he had given it to his wife.  Importantly, and I think this may be the key, the record was made in 1963...the same year that he and his wife separated.  He moved out and moved in with Alice before he and Naima were divorced.  Anyone who has been in a similar situation knows how chaotic it can be.  To me, it’s completely plausible that a record label (and artist) could “lose” a recording.

Looking forward to hearing it; the proof is in the listening.

frog, thanks for your expansion on the potential quality/importance of this recording and possible reasons for it being "lost".

Under those circumstances I might guess he gave the tape(s) to Naima before they separated. With the typical chaos that involves I can’t imagine him doing that afterwards.

Still, most jazz musicians, even Miles, were not making big $ in the early ’60s. So it would seem reasonable that Trane would have wanted everything released which he approved. Plus the sidemen from that recording would have no doubt ask about a release since it meant some money to them too. So even in the confusion of his personal/marital life at the time it is difficult for me to believe Coltrane simply forgot about it.  And more importantly, what bearing did his personal life have on Impulse and their normal production for new release and distribution?

But all that is conjecture now and has little bearing about today’s worth and appreciation for this new release. As I said before, the listening will now tell all.

A lot of recordings came out much later than recorded due to over saturation. Blue Note released a lot of Albums much later than recorded.

I remember when I would purchase every Wynton Marsalis recording as they came out. From 1989 - 1992 Wynton put out 15 recordings. Bought a few during, but much less after that.

First, Happy Father’s Day to any jazz loving Dads out there!

pryso, sometimes we forget that great artists are people too just like all of us and are subject to forgetfulness and other similar issues just as we all are.  I would be willing to bet that this “lost” Trane recording is not the only one out there that has been forgotten about.  Musicians would often (and still do) go into the studio and lay down tracks that would eventually find their way onto record releases without prior concrete plans to do so; or would go into the studio to rehearse and the engineer would simply roll the tape.  No big money to be sure, but those guys were very busy; not just recording, but with tours and other live performances.  The truth is that most (not all) jazz artists were notorious for being disorganized with their business dealings.  Re my comments re the record label:

Impulse was a relatively small record label with very limited resources.  The more records they released, the more that their limited resources were taxed and the more likely that a tape might be lost.  Much more unlikely that, as with a label like Columbia, would they have an archivist on staff.  So....

You may find this of interest:

http://www.billholland.net/words/Labels%20Strive%20to%20Rectify%20Past%20Archival%20Problems.pdf

jafant
You recently mentioned Chick Corea's birthday!!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pb5NEC_2Svk
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4Nr-QwptUcA