Needing to reach back into the classics and fill myself up on some of the finest jazz masters of all time.

Here are John Coltrane and Stan Getz performing Hackensack (Rifftide) with Oscar Peterson on piano,Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums.

When you need to recharge, what do you listen to?

What a lineup! John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman and Elvin Jones in 1961 in Germany crushing through 'Trane's modal masterpiece "Impressions". What more could you ask for?

Essential Jazz Masters

Here's one to honor Dr. King.

As a jazz lover, all I can say is thank goodness for European TV in the 60’s. Many of the best artists playing the best music of our time were a rarity on American sets, or their tunes were limited to 3 or 4 minutes. On German telly, the guys could get into and really work a groove. John Coltrane, revered the world over by jazz lovers, really gives “On Green Dolphin Street" a workout, ably assisted by his sidemen, Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums.

Not everyone transformed [pic a music genre]. John Coltrane did though. And when people said he was too abstract and difficulty to follow he shocked the jazz world in 1961 with an album called My Favorite Things which left people with their jaws agape. Let's listen to a hybrid of two recent edits-- the original, at almost 14 minutes, is too big for YouTube-- of the title track. Although it has since been covered by artists as diverse as Kenny Rogers, Sarah Vaughan, Bjork, Barbra Streisand, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Luther Vandross, Andre 3000 (OutKast), Brian Setzer, Tanya Tucker, Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass, Rod Stewart and The Supremes, it was Coltrane who took the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein song from the Broadway hit The Sound of Music and made it his own. This was Trane's first release on Atlantic and his first with a quartet that included McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones and Steve Davis.

Along with Louis Armstrong and Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis was one of the most influential trumpet players in contemporary music. By the time he died in 1991, he was widely considered the greatest and most respected jazz player in the world. Tonight's piece, comes from his early Columbia Records recording sessions and includes John Coltrane on tenor sax, Philly Joe Jones on drums, Red Garland on piano and Paul Chambers on bass. It was the lead track on Relaxin' With The Miles Davis Quintet (1956) and the two recording sessions resulted in enough material for 3 other albums that year... Cookin' With, Steamin' With, and Workin' With. "If I Were A Bell" wasn't a Davis composition but was written by Frank Loesser for the Broadway show Guys and Dolls.

I have recently introduced my 9 year old to John Coltrane and she is turning into a huge jazz buff.

So for her, from 1959, Miles' legendary quintet (including John Coltrane, Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb) and the Gil Evans Orchestra performing New Rhumba

John Coltrane

Coltrane is my favorite sax player of all time and one of my biggest influences. John's technique is impeccable, but it's his sound that was so piercing and seductive. There is no mistaking that sweet wail as he settles into a groove and loses himself in the creative process. Coltrane had a hard time playing on TV because he wouldn't be constrained to the time limits set forth by the industry so there is very little footage of him unfortunately.

This is a live recording of the song "So What, " with the legendary Miles Davis, and although Coltrane is a sideman, the sound quality is pretty good. Enjoy this groove on a Saturday night.

I constantly change my mind about which recording of Coltrane's is my favorite. Today its "Giant Steps"

More Coltrane

I'm definitely going to start a music club since so many of you are into it.

Check out this great video by Michael Levy, featuring Coltrane's " Giant Steps."

Today I'm listening to "Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane"

(h/t Sean)