John Coltrane – Coltrane (LP, Analogue Productions)

John Coltrane’s first album as bandleader didn’t come out of nowhere, it was well prepared. In 1955 he joined the Miles Davis Quintet and later played with Thelonious Monk at the Five Spot Cafe. During this time he perfected his mastery of the instrument and gained more and more admirers for his style among fellow musicians and audiences. For the 1957 Prestige LP “Coltrane” he assembled a group of carefully selected musicians, contributed various compositions and wrote some of the arrangements. The tenor saxophonist was accompanied by John Splawn (trumpet), Sahib Shihab (baritone saxophone), Mal Waldron (piano), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Al Heath (drums).