Wilbur Harden & John Coltrane - The Complete Savoy Sessions (2001 Reissue)
EAC rip | 2CD | FLAC - Log - Cue | Full Artwork | 773 MB | MP3 320 kbps | 344 Mb
Genre: Jazz, Hard Bop, Saxophone, Trumpet | Label: Jazz Heritage, Denon Records

Wilbur Harden has been somewhat of a jazz mystery, appearing on a handful of dates and then suddenly disappearing for good after falling ill not long after the 1958 sessions featured on this reissue. After these recordings of Harden's works were issued in various forms on LP, including on some occasions with John Coltrane receiving top or sole billing, all of the music recorded by this overlooked trumpeter and flugelhornist with the legendary tenor saxophonist has finally become available in one complete two-CD set.

The always dependable Tommy Flanagan is the pianist on two of the three sessions. Although Harden is a competent player, his compositions aren't particularly memorable, although they are enjoyable; the primary reason people have sought this music is to plug a gap in their John Coltrane collections. Highlights include the loping "Wells Fargo," the exotic "E.F.F.P.H.," and the strutting "Anedac," which substitutes Howard Williams for Flanagan and adds trombonist Curtis Fuller to the mix. The consistently strong playing of John Coltrane is what makes this set worth acquiring.


Personnel: Wilbur Harden (trumpet, flugelhorn); John Coltrane (tenor saxophone); Curtis Fuller (trombone); Tommy Flanagan, Howard Williams (piano); Doug Watkins, Ali Jackson (bass); Louis Hayes, Arthur Taylor (drums).

Tracklist:

CD1
01. Wells Fargo [Take 1]
02. Wells Fargo [Take 2-Master]
03. West 42nd Street
04. E.F.F.P.H.
05. Snuffy
06. Rhodamagnetics [Take 1]
07. Rhodamagnetics [Take 2-Master]
08. Countdown [Take 1]
09. Countdown [Take 2-Master]
10. Anedac

CD2

01. B.J. [Take 1]
02. B.J. [Take 2]
03. B.J. [Take 3-Master]
04. Once in a While
05. Dial Africa [Take 1]
06. Dial Africa [Take 2-Master]
07. Oomba
08. Gold Coast
09. Tanganyika Strut