A bounty of recordings issued to mark centennial of jazz icon John Coltrane

To mark the centennial of jazz great John Coltrane, his estate has authorized the release of previously unavailable as well as classic albums by the legendary saxophonist, composer and bandleader. For this yearlong tribute, Impulse! Records, Craft Recordings and Rhino Records have been issuing discs that celebrate Coltrane’s enduring legacy.

These releases constitute the recorded backbone of “Coltrane 100,” which showcases the full range of his artistry as the world marks the 100th anniversary of his birth on Sept. 23, 1926, in Hamlet, North Carolina.
As part of the centennial salute, Branford Marsalis and Dianne Reeves will celebrate Trane in an SCP Jazz concert on Oct. 16. The program will include selections from the duo’s upcoming disc that revisits Coltrane’s seminal 1963 collaboration with vocalist Johnny Hartman. That album, simply titled “John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman” (Impulse!), was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.

At the heart of the centennial tribute is the first official release of jazz’s holy grail “The Tiberi Tapes,” to be issued by Impulse! in September; it documents previously unheard live recordings made by saxophonist-educator Frank Tiberi between 1961 and 1965 in clubs across New York City and Philadelphia. This collection was preceded by a special Record Store Day edition, “The Tiberi Tapes: A Preview of the Mythical Recordings,” on April 18.

“The Tiberi tapes have literally been the stuff of legend in the world of John Coltrane until now,” said Jamie Krents, president and CEO of Universal Music/Verve Label Group, in a statement. “We’re thrilled to finally get to share these recordings of Coltrane’s musical evolution with the world. It’s a true privilege and honor for the team at Impulse! to release unheard music from one of the absolute icons of music as we celebrate his centennial.”

Impulse! also is reissuing several landmark Trane titles, such as “Africa/Brass” (1961), released on April 24; “Impressions” (1963) on May 22; “Ascension” (1966) on June 12; “Meditations” (1965) on Aug. 14, and “Live at Birdland” (1963) on Oct. 23. Meanwhile, “The Essential John Coltrane” (Impulse!), a limited-edition, two-LP set, is available as a Target exclusive.

On March 13, Craft Recordings released “The Best of John Coltrane,” which compiles tracks from the saxophonist’s seminal 1957-58 sessions that established him as a defining modern voice.

Meanwhile, Rhino Records launched its component of the centennial campaign with its limited-edition “Mono” box set (Rhino High Fidelity), available now; it features mono pressings from 1960-64 of the albums “Giant Steps” (1960), “Coltrane Jazz” (1961), “My Favorite Things” (1961), “Olé Coltrane” (1961), “Coltrane Plays the Blues” (1962) and “Coltrane’s Sound” (1964), all taken from the original analog master tapes and pressed on 180-gram vinyl.

The centennial celebrations go beyond recorded music. On Sept. 23, the Hollywood Bowl will present “Coltrane 100: Legacy,” a symphonic salute featuring newly reimagined orchestral arrangements by leading contemporary composers, including Grammy-nominated Carlos Simon. The program will spotlight saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, backed by her touring band, and a 16-piece orchestra, with trumpeter Wynton Marsalis closing the concert. 

For more details. visit www.johncoltrane.com.