“Ballads” by the John Coltrane Quartet
Records for Lovers Week concludes with romantic jazz best enjoyed after dimming the lights.
Programming note: I got married this past weekend (!), and, as a result, I'm taking a step back from content creation until next Monday. I thought I'd keep this week's slate of album recommendations mood-appropriate by celebrating romance in all its musical forms. I'm calling it "Records for Lovers Week" because I'm cheesy like that.
Multiple genres, some hidden gems, maybe a classic or two—hope you enjoy it!
Hello! 😊👋
Welcome to a new edition of the Daily Music Picks newsletter!
Today’s music pick is an unsung gem from one of jazz’s biggest names, dialing back the theatrics for something unabashedly tender.
Genre: Jazz
Label: Verve
Release Date: January 15, 1963
Vibe: 💓
According to critic Gene Lees in the liner notes for Ballads, the quartet that plays on this record—John Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones—had never played the tunes before. "They arrived with music-store sheet music of the songs," he said, and "would discuss each tune, write out copies of the changes they'd use, [and] semi-rehearse for a half hour" before laying down each of the eight tracks. Despite the casual approach to the recording process, this collection of slow jams is among the dreamiest material Coltrane ever produced, tailor-made for late-night and early-morning hours spent in the arms of the one you love.
It’s also arguably Coltrane’s most accessible album, as it does away with the feverish complexities of his work on records like Ascension, preferring to take a warmer, more straightforward path to introspection. The arrangements, which lean heavily on Tyner’s light touch on the ivories, infuse familiar standards with heartfelt allure. Admittedly, there’s no reinventing the wheel here, but that’s the point. Tracks like “Too Young to Go Steady” and “Nancy (With the Laughing Face)” glitter with romantic restraint, allowing Coltrane and the other players to showcase their chops with calm, confident ease.
If you’re looking for an inviting soundtrack to a quiet night in with that special someone, you could do a lot worse.
👉 Don’t forget to click the album image to stream the album on your favorite platform 👈