Simply (one of) the best

In 1964, John Coltrane recorded only two albums, one of them being of course A Love Supreme. The other album, Crescent, although it didn't receive the same amount of accolades, is an equally impressive classic in its own right. And of course, it reveals an understated beauty & glory which only a duder like Coltrane could create.

The title track is a great way to kick things off; it's one of the finest ballads Coltrane ever wrote & one of the best in Trane's later style. "Wise One" continues the streak of consistency, taking the listener on a journey of full-on emotion, longing, seeking & eventual reconciliation (words which could best describe John Coltrane himself, BTW). "Bessie's Blues" is 3 1/2 minutes of straight up, no-nonsense blues. "Lonnie's Lament" features a sparkling piano solo by McCoy Tyner plus an awesome bass solo by Jimmy Garrison, sans any accompaniment; while "The Drum Thing" is self-explanatory: Elvin Jones' time to shine & lay into his kit with an explosive exposition on drums.

With Crescent, one finds that besides revealing his spiritual side, John Coltrane could open up the listener through his lyrical side as well. And the contributions of his bandmates cannot be neglected either, as the previous paragraph amply illustrates. A Love Supreme may have gotten all the glory but Crescent has a rightful place in the Coltrane discography as well: without question this album is an essential effort which sowed the seeds for A Love Supreme & his late-period performances in a more accessible form.