John Coltrane Quartet - Ballads / vinyl LP

John Coltrane's time with Impulse! Records was highlighted by the conscious-altering original work of albums like A Love Supreme and Ascension. But Ballads, released in 1963, proved Trane could make any repertoire his own — even time-worn standards interpreted in the studio with his burgeoning classic quintet of pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones. (Garrison's predecessor Jimmy Workman appears on one track.) Working largely from minimal rehearsals and stunning single takes, beloved numbers like "All or Nothing At All," "It's Easy to Remember" and "What's New?" are infused with an energy that makes these songs feel brand new, further establishing Trane as one of the most striking bandleaders of his generation.