John Coltrane（ジョン・コルトレーン）が1961年、Atlantic Recordsからimpulse!に移籍して最初に取り組んだのが、ビッグバンド編成によるアフリカ音楽への接近だった。5月23日と6月7日、ヴァン・ゲルダー・スタジオに集められたのは、フレンチホルン4本、チューバ、ユーフォニアム、トロンボーンを含む大編成のブラス・オーケストラ。編曲と指揮を任されたのは、当時レギュラー・クインテットに加わったばかりのマルチリード奏者、Eric Dolphy（エリック・ドルフィ）である。

このセッションから生まれたのが1961年発表の『Africa/Brass』だが、その陰には長らく未発表のままだったテイクが存在した。本作はそれらの未発表テイクとオルタネイト・マスターを集めた編集盤で、1974年にリリースされている。Side Aの Song Of The Underground Railroad は、このアルバムで初めて陽の目を見た未発表曲。Greensleeves は既発テイクに先立つテイク1、Side Bの Africa は16分に及ぶ大作である。

ジャケットに写るのは西アフリカの仮面と楽器。表はシエラレオネのメンデ族、裏はアイボリーコーストのダン族に伝わるマスクで、いずれもロサンゼルスの収集家Barry Kitnickのコレクションから撮影された。プロデュースはEd Michel。Coltraneの死から7年後、未亡人アリス・コルトレーンの許諾のもとに世へ出た一枚にあたる。

CONDITION

Media Near Mint (NM or M-) 目立つ傷なし、針跳びなし
Sleeve Very Good Plus (VG+) 裏面に白い破れあり、他は年代相応
OBI Near Mint (NM or M-) 完存、傷み・破れなし

見開き内側に前所有者による鉛筆書き「Aug 1974」。
Deadwax: AS-9273-B / 2 S（Side 2 刻印）

PRESS / LABEL

Label: impulse! / IMP-88195
原盤番号: AS-9273
発売元: 東芝EMI株式会社（日本盤・帯付）
Format: LP, Album, Stereo, 33 1/3rpm, 12"
Country: Japan
Recorded: 1961
Released: 1974
Produced by: Ed Michel
帯記載当時定価: ¥2,200
帯コピー: 「JAZZ RIGHT NOW」／インパルス・レコード

PERSONNEL

John Coltrane tenor, soprano sax
Eric Dolphy reeds, arr. & cond.
Booker Little trumpet
Britt Woodman trombone
Carl Bowman euphonium
Julius Watkins french horn
Donald Corrado french horn
Bob Northern french horn
Robert Swissel french horn
Bill Barber tuba
Pat Patrick reeds
McCoy Tyner piano
Reggie Workman bass
Art Davis bass
Jimmy Garrison bass
Elvin Jones drums

TRACKLIST

SIDE A
1. Song Of The Underground Railroad 6:37
2. Greensleeves 10:49

SIDE B
1. Africa 16:01

JOHN COLTRANE
The Africa Brass Sessions, Vol. 2
impulse! IMP-88195 / Toshiba-EMI, Japan / with OBI


NOTES

A night spent in a forest, alive with the stirring of countless creatures.

It begins with a low growl. The bass holds a single note.

Five french horns rise and layer over one another, as if lifting out of the trees.

There is a moment when Coltrane's tenor cuts into the fabric Eric Dolphy wove.

May and June of 1961. Two recording dates.

Then thirteen years, heard by no one.

How fully did he grasp, at the time, the weight carried by a title
like Song Of The Underground Railroad?

McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones were in the room. So was Dolphy, still young.

Only by dropping the needle can you touch that weight.


PAIRING COFFEE

We pair this with MANDHELING G1. The heavy bitterness and body of a dark
roast sit close to the thick wall of sound raised by the brass orchestra.
The finish lingers in the throat and fades at the same pace as the sixteen
minutes of Africa.

ABOUT

In 1961, after moving from Atlantic Records to impulse!, John Coltrane's
first undertaking was an approach to African music through a big band
setting. On May 23 and June 7, a large brass orchestra gathered at Van
Gelder Studio, including four french horns, tuba, euphonium and trombone.
Arranging and conducting fell to Eric Dolphy, the multi-reed player who had
only recently joined Coltrane's regular quintet.

These sessions produced Africa/Brass, released in 1961, but takes from the
same dates remained unissued for years. This album collects those unreleased
takes and alternate masters, and was released in 1974. Song Of The
Underground Railroad on Side A saw the light of day for the first time here.
Greensleeves is take 1, preceding the issued version, and Africa on Side B
runs to sixteen minutes.

CONDITION

Media Near Mint (NM or M-) No visible marks, no skips
Sleeve Very Good Plus (VG+) A white tear on the back cover,
otherwise consistent with age
OBI Near Mint (NM or M-) Complete, no tears or damage

Pencil note "Aug 1974" by a previous owner on the inner gatefold.
Deadwax: AS-9273-B / 2 S (Side 2)