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Title: This Train Left the Station a Little Early
Review: Unless you're a John Coltane fanatic/collector, you'll miss nothing of importance by not passing on this really quite pedestrian blowing session. The lineup seems impressive enough at first glance, but the session wound up as a perfunctory-sounding changes run by all involved - - aside from John's solo on 'Moment's Notice,' there really isn't any magic here. Jay Jay Johnson muddles through the tunes on trombone along with Coltrane and the rest of the bunch, and the tunes themselves even seem to lack zip - - even the title track lacks drama, and clocks in at an obscene length for such a bland performance. I'm not saying it's terrible, and it does offer a few fine moments in addition to the reliably solid blue-note sound, but if you really want a Coltrane from this period, go with the Coltrane/Hartman album, or skip ahead to 'A Love Supreme,' by no means a straight ahead offering, but one with some real juice just the same. - - George McCoy
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