Friday Night Jazz: John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman

January 18, 2008 6:50pm by

John_coltrane_johnny_hartmanThis was a rough week (even for the Bears). So for this evening’s FNJ, I am going to focus on a specific album that you should pop into your musical device of choice and enjoy: John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman

I have mentioned each of these fine gentlemen over the past few years.

Hartman has a dark, rich voice. His sense of pitch is superb,
his diction outstanding. If you want a mellifluous, honey-toned
baritone, there is none better. He was a crooner on par with Sinatra (if not better); indeed,
Hartman may very well have been the greatest jazz balladeer of all
time.

Foior_traneIn 1963, he released I Just Dropped by to Say Hello, with Illinois Jacquet as his sideman.  And, I just ordered  For Trane, a disc of tracks recorded in Japan. 

But his best known work remains the superb John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman – a beautiful, must own jazz classic

There’s a terrific NPR Jazz Profile of  Johnny Hartman that is well worth exploring — definitely check out Murray Horowitz and A.B. Spellman discussing the John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman album.

~~~

 

Enjoy Coltrane and Hartman’s take on Billy Strayhorn’s Play Lush Life …

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  1. howard commented on Jan 18

    i agree: this is one of the candidates for desert island discs, a classic, best heard with fire burning and cognac in hand….

  4. Rodger Coleman commented on Jan 19

    While I find all the financial stuff interesting, I was turned on to your blog by Bob Lefsetz because of your music industry commentary. I enjoy your Friday posts, but this one is an especially good one.

    I love Coltrane at his most out and intense (thing Ascension, Meditations, Sun Ship, etc.) but this record is so sublimely beautiful, even my in-laws like it.

    Thanks for the excellent content. You’re one of the better bloggers out there.

    Cheers,
    Rodger

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