John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman is a studio album by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman which was released by Impulse! Records in July or August 1963. It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.
Although it is often reported that Coltrane and Hartman had known each other since their days playing with Dizzy Gillespie's band in the late 1940s, their time in the band never overlapped. Coltrane might have heard Hartman sing at a 1950 Apollo Theater performance at which they shared the stage. Hartman is the only vocalist with whom the saxophonist would record as a leader. Initially when producer Bob Thiele approached Hartman with Coltrane's request that the two record together, Hartman was hesitant as he did not consider himself a jazz singer and did not think he and Coltrane would complement one another musically.
However, Thiele encouraged Hartman to go see Coltrane perform at Birdland in New York City to see if they could work something out. Hartman did and after the club closed, he, Coltrane and Coltrane's pianist, McCoy Tyner, went over some songs together. On March 7, 1963, Coltrane and Hartman had decided on 10 songs for the record album, but en route to the studio they heard Nat King Cole on the radio performing "Lush Life", and Hartman immediately decided that song had to be included in their album.
It's 1963 and Don Draper and his wife are hosting a dinner party for the other Mad Men. Sipping on his Old Fashioned, Don puts this album on the console turntable and lights a cigarette.
John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman make an amazing combination. The album is short and sweet filled with beautiful standards from early Jazz. Hartman's deep baritone voice fit these songs perfectly. Start to finish, I thought this was a perfect album.
Standouts: Lush Life, My One and Only Love, and You Are So Beautiful.
I know Jazz isn't for everyone, and the music is really dated. But, if you appreciate beautiful collaborations - this is one of the best.
This is probably what is playing in most peoples minds when you say jazz. It's very very jazzy and some good covers of standards, but it isn't that impressive. It's certainly good but you've probably heard something like it before.
My personal rating: 4/5
My rating relative to the list: 4/5
Should this have been included on the original list? No.
Solid smooth jazz addition, a bit slow and too warbly in the vocals to stick with me but a needed bit of variety in context of the original 1001. After completing the Rolling Stone 500 list, it became clear how this project sorely lacks in major jazz contributions so I'm happy to see some more here!
Beautiful collaboration album of saxophone player John Coltrane and singer Johnny Hartman with definitive versions of "Lush Life" and "My One and Only Love". If you're into jazz ballads, this is the way.
If I remember correctly, the only John Coltrane album included in the original list is *A Love Supreme*. Of course, if the latter had not be selected, everyone and their mothers would have lambasted the whole project, deservedly so.
Yet even if you only have a basic knowledge of jazz, you also know Dimery and co did that music genre dirty anyway. In the case of Coltrane, this means that *Blue Train*, *Giant Steps*, *Olé*, *Africa / Brass* and *My Favorite Things* were ignored. Heck, even the live album at the Village Vanguard, or the one he recorded with Duke Ellington, should have been strong contenders for the list.
So under that light I find today's users-curated suggestion by a little dubious to say the least. Like, can you truly ignore all those other awesome jazz records again if you're a Coltrane fan? Is this the one to go for first? Really???
Not that *John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman* doesn't harbor a couple of gems. Its version of "Lush Life" is great, for instance -- gosh, how wonderful that suddenly expansive finale sounds. Bossanova shenanigans on closer "Autumn Serenade" are also terrific. "My One and Only Love" is also pretty cool. McCoy Tyner does his usual magic on the piano from one track to the next. And Johnny Hartman is indeed a suave singer.
A little too suave, maybe. In the other tracks, what I'm hearing is like a version of Chet Baker without any *genuine* vulnerability. Or conversely, I'm hearing a vocal performance that's a little too in earnest, without the snarling undertones Chet was also known for.
This earnestness also works against the music itself at times. The affect sounds a little flat overall, and it's like Coltrane also needs to be reined in during his performance -- so as to not cast a long shadow on the singer, I imagine. And for one or two compositions -- such as "You Are Too Beautiful", which is so heavily formatted it becomes entirely predictable -- you can even say the whole thing becomes boring.
Sorry, anonymous user. Can't count this one in my own imaginary "book". *John Coltrane And Johnny Hartman* plays just fine as background music. But it's not a record I can feel passionate about. And there are many John Coltrane records I do feel passionate about, you know. Hope you can understand...
----
3/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums.
8/10 for more general purposes: 5 + 3
----
Number of albums from the original list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 465
Albums from the original list I *might* include in mine later on: 288
Albums from the original list I won't include in mine: 336
-----
Number of albums from the users list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 50
Albums from the users list I *might* select for mine later on: 66
Albums from the users list I won't select for mine: 119 (including this one)
---
Hey, Émile. Tu as déjà dû voir ma dernière réponse sous la review de *Young, Loud And Snotty* des Dead Boys ! J'essaie d'écrire la mienne bientôt
I'm sorry guy, did you miss the part where John Coltrane got an album on the original list?
Anyway, this just kinda went nowhere. Again, just like last time, can appreciate the skill but it does nothing for me. 2/5.
This is a wonderful addition to the list. John Coltrane plus the beautiful, distinctive, smooooooth voice of Johnny Hartman. Yet another one that changed my mind about jazz.
The very first seconds of the very first track, and I instantly spot that Bran Van 3000 sampled from this album. Splendid!
I'll admit, I've never heard of Johnny Hartman before, but I'm vaguely familiar with John Coltrane, so I'm pretty sure that I'm going to absolutely love this.
Aftrr listening, I can confirm that this is some sumptuous jazz.
Nice selection.
I'm no sophisticate of Jazz but I always liked Coltrane. This had an odd mix I had a little trouble with... the sax seeming to play directly into my left ear, the rest of the backing hovering somewhere over my right shoulder. It made for a melancholy workout but I liked it overall.
A really nice listen. I have heard of John Coltrane before, but don't know Johnny Hartman. It isn't something I would ever listen to again (on purpose) but I appreciate good music - and there is no doubt that this is GOOD. Hard to rate but I'll give it a 3.5 of 5 only because I don't plan to relisten to it. I was really glad I got the chance to hear it once though. Thanks to the submitter.
Musically this was pretty terrific. Languid, elegant arrangements, with rich, smooth vocals from Johnny Hartman. John Coltrane's performance is flawless and thoughtfully applied, functioning almost as a second vocal. A couple of songs on the back half didn't really hit for me, but overall this was a really enjoyable listen.
Fave Songs: They Say It's Wonderful, Dedicated to You,My One and Only Love
Well this was a delightful surprise. Somewhere after the trailblazing harmonic mastery of Giant Steps and the wailing avant-garde leanings of the Village Vanguard live album, and before the spiritual and conceptual tour-de-forces of A Love Supreme and Ascension, Coltrane stripped it all back for this lovely collection of jazz ballads with classic baritone singer Johnny Hartman. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard Coltrane play in such a beautifully restrained way, and it’s one more feather in the cap of such a diverse and accomplished musician and bandleader
Great choice of an addition, is it as good as love supreme no, but very accessible jazz music so we can make room for it on the and my frequent rotation.
More jazz is always welcomed 🙏 This is a different side of Coltrane than what is usually heard, playing a supportive role to Johnny Hartman’s song. A short and sweet recording
This album was a pleasant surprise, since I felt like the main album was sorely lacking in Coltrane and other jazz giants. I've never been a huge fan of the crooning singing style that Hartman employs, but that's more of a personal preference issue. He has a beautiful voice, and Coltrane is sublime as always
4/5
Johnny's voice is awesome, but I can't help thinking I would have liked this album better as an instrumental-only. After a couple of tracks, I began to notice patterns in his cadence and note choice that became distracting.
A jazz legend mixed with a classic ballad singer creates a solid simple album of melodic ballads of an older time. Anything Coltrane touched was pretty amazing. I prefer his instrumental albums as it keeps it simpler but Hartman keeps it simple with classic love and hurt songs of a previous time. Pure duo musicianship here. 7.1/10
I’ve been starting to get into jazz in the last year or so. I have started with instrumental jazz and haven’t yet made the leap into jazz with vocals. Clearly this is a very good version of that music. For some strange reason it doesn’t do anything for me. I’ll keep making small forays into this world maybe one day it will click.
I mean, I wouldn't personally go for a vocal jazz album if I had to pick a second Coltrane record when "Giant Steps" and "My Favorite Things" are right there, but sure, why not, obscure picks are also great.
It's pretty good. Not really my type of jazz, but if I ever find myself smoking a cigarette on a rainy night while a British man narrates my love life, this will be perfect background music.
Such a beautiful record.
The strange thing is that I cannot point out one specific track on the disc that I would name as noteworthy. Instead, I prize the entire thing as a mood. That mood being romantic, that is.
No. Jazz is not big and it’s not clever. “But is it just that you are challenged by the music going in a different direction to your expectations?!” No. Who likes to find out their chocolate muffin is in fact a blueberry muffin? No one.
Jazz is made by people who think they are better than they are and liked by people who think they are better than everyone else. I said what I said.