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John Coltrane's Classic 'A Love Supreme' Is Getting A Massive 50th Anniversary Reissue
John Coltrane's Classic 'A Love Supreme' Is Getting A Massive 50th Anniversary Reissue

Hear An Unreleased, Alternate Take Of John Coltrane's "Acknowledgment"

Lenny Kravitz, Grace Jones, Lauryn Hill, Lion Babe, Thundercat, SZA & More Rock The Afropunk Festival 2015 in Brooklyn, NY.

When John Coltrane stepped out of the cold on December 9, 1964 and into the Van Gelder Studio, he might have known full well that he was about to once again make jazz history. On that fateful day, Coltrane and his quartet (bassist Jimmy Garrison, drummer Elvin Jones and pianist McCoy Tyner) were backed at times by bassist Art Davis and fellow saxophonist Archie Shepp. Now, to mark the album's 50th anniversary, Verve Music Group is releasing the session's complete master tapes, and already a never-before-heard gem has been brought to light.

It comes in the form of a previously-unheard take on "Acknowledgment," the brooding opener to the entire album. This, we hear, is take number six, and while it ultimately wasn't chosen as the definitive album cut, it's still a brilliant artifact of legends performing at the height of their powers.

Looking back on the session, Shepp has the following to say:

John's passion, spirit, and sensitivity were evident throughout and he communicaterd that feeling to everyone present at the session; It was a daunting and inspirational journey.

Tyner also added:

Regarding the sessions played with John, it's quite difficult to judge my feeling for each session because each album and session had something special to offer to my life and music. I will say that there was a sense of spirituality in what we recorded which allowed us to communicate as a unit in the most perfect way. I'm very happy and honored to be a part of John's legacy and the quartet.

Listen to the alternative take on "Acknowledgment" below, and enjoy a fresh encounter with one of jazz's most important cuts. The 50th Anniversary re-release of A Love Supreme can be picked up on Amazon.