There are very few albums that are widely regarded as instant classics. This is one of those few that was considered so at the time, and is still upheld as one today. This was recorded with fellow bandmates in a single session on 15 September 1957 and was released in January 1958. All key songs were written by John Coltrane himself, except I’m Old Fashioned. This album features the following musicians: John Coltrane (saxophone); Lee Morgan (trumpet); Curtis Fuller (trombone); Kenny Drew (piano); Paul Chambers (bass); and Philly Joe Jones (drums). This album was recorded at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, New Jersey and was released on Blue Note Records. The album itself has five tracks, running for just over 42 minutes. Let’s take a listen to this album, and we shall hear if it is any good.

1. Blue Train is the key track, which runs for over 10 minutes in length. It begins with some awesome synchronised horns and pounding piano, both of which sound really great. This continues on melodically for some time, sounding absolutely awesome. Soon enough, John Coltrane gets into it with pleasant saxophone, and the rest of the band follows him nicely. An amazing and varied listening experience that sounds really good. This is classy Jazz Music for those of you who value intellectual and solid gold musicianship, no matter what the era was. This is truly an inspirational listening experience that holds up very well to this day. A very unique listening experience, this is saxophone-led Jazz Music for those of you who value intelligence, intellect and art all in one on an album. This never gets dull or boring throughout, and it sounds super classy. The rhythm section sounds great, too. The trumpet solo emerges after some time and sounds really fine, fantastic and glorious. John Coltrane was easily matched with some of the best names in music back in 1958. All in all, a really grand and great tune to listen to. A stunner in terms of music and performances. Unlike other forms of instrumental music, this never bores you upon listening to it all. It sounds amazing and the musicians all did a wonderful job here. Trombone follows in a solo section, and also sounds very, very good. This is exactly how you do Jazz Music. The percussion section plays a nice effort of catch-up here as well. This music is sensationally good, and it blows away anything done today in the name of digital Electronic Music. Eventually, it leads into a more subdued section of music in the second half. This is followed by a piano solo section that is top-notch. These guys knew music, all right. This sounds amazing and fantastic, and has not aged a bit since its release. A really lovely and adventurous-sounding piece. This is how Jazz Music should sound. The piano playing continues precisely and magically on for some time, as this extended tune gradually reaches its end. Absolutely fantastic to hear. A very awesome listening. This then leads into a double bass solo section with drumming to match it. Splendid listening is present. It eventually launches back into a reprise of the earlier melodies of this tune and wraps up things nicely here. Brilliant work overall. The tune ends nicely with some drumrolls.

2. Moment’s Notice is a nine-minute-long piece. It begins with upbeat saxophone and the rest of the band playing furiously. A piano leads in, and this tune is groovy and syncopated, which sounds really sweet and excellent to hear. A wonderfully powerful and magical tune that sounds swinging and upbeat. The saxophone by John Coltrane is awesome and amazing to listen to, and it is purely classy. John Coltrane plays saxophone easily, brilliantly and with laser-focused precision. The music and playing throughout support him is also wonderfully awesome. This is a clear case of fabulous and masterful music, from way back in 1958. It sounds gorgeous, intricate and smooth as butter. The trombone section that follows is also sweet and amazing to listen to, with some equally amazing, perfect note playing to listen to. John Coltrane and friends certainly knew their craft. This music is sensationally good. Even today, the sound of this album is a mindblowing one. As we approach the midsection, the trombone playing continues in an energetic and frenzied way, leading into a section of trumpet playing that also sounds fantastic. A killer mood and groove emerge from this music, and it sounds absolutely divine to hear. A vibrant, energetic and amazing performance is present on this album. This beats hands down a lot of the popular music of today, as of the time of writing. It continues on with a glorious amount of trumpet melodies, and sounds quirky, colourful and divine. Some interesting bass melodies are present as we gradually move on, and this sounds awesome. Soon enough, a piano solo emerges that is precise, sweet and energetic to listen to. One can only imagine the amount of practice that these guys put into their instruments. A passionate and energetic performance is present. This tune gradually approaches its end, and sounds really sweet and awesome. It concludes with John Coltrane playing a nice saxophone-led conclusion with the rest of the band. Top-notch stuff. The outro is insane sounding.

3. Locomotion is not Kylie Minogue. It begins with a thunderous drum solo, launching into another fantastic and expressive tune at hand. It is over seven minutes in length, so strap yourselves in. It has a mixture of melodies, before John Coltrane comes out on top with his saxophone playing. A very sweet and gorgeous tune to listen to. This sounds energetic and very, very wonderful to listen to. The music and performances are really magical and top. It sounds superb, sweet and passionate as a kind of music out there. A truly awesome and inspired listen from way back in 1958. A trombone solo then follows, and this powerful yet quirky Jazz Music continues. It sounds extremely good and musically wonderful to listen to. This has very little to do with trains, and more to do with expressive and pure Jazz musicianship. This tune is absolutely fantastic, just like the rest of the album. In the midsection, the trumpet gets going and sounds very, very tasty to listen to. This music will never die in its appeal, or its classic album status. It just sounds absolutely amazing, to this very day. An awesome track to listen to, just like the rest of the album. An upbeat piano solo section follows, which sounds pleasantly amazing to listen to. This is one of the greatest Jazz albums of the era. A drum solo follows, which is amazing, energetic and captivating listening to this very day. The drumming is top stuff, and sounds really clever and divine. This returns to the main section of the music to conclude with. A great seven-minute long tune to hear. It ends with a great section of saxophone and horn playing to conclude with. Sweet.

4. I’m Old Fashioned begins with a loud and direct set of horns and piano playing, which sounds smooth and sweet to listen to. It quickly enters into a gorgeous and slower piece of music that sounds sensationally good to hear. One need not be old-fashioned to appreciate this particular tune (or album, for that matter). In fact, this sounds amazingly beautiful and pretty to hear, even today. This sub-eight-minute-long piece does sound sweet and fantastic throughout, being a bit more soulful and articulate than other forms of music delivered at the time. The musicianship is amazingly precise. The trombone that follows is a good listen as well. It sounds smooth, sweet and different from most forms of music out there. This continues on nicely for some time. John Coltrane proves that, even when not playing music of his own, he and his band could uniquely articulate their own voice and energy throughout. This is still fantastic music to hear, although its slower pace is radically different from the rest of the album. In the second half is a pretty piano solo that works wonders in a musical sense. It sounds so nicely done here, and is an absolutely wonderful listen at hand. An awesome listen, this continues the grand and visionary Jazz Music that John Coltrane pioneered on this album and in his music career. A fantastic listen throughout that articulates great music at hand. This progresses into a trumpet solo that sounds fresh and unique. An amazing and awesome listen with style and flair. John Coltrane hit gold on this album material-wise, and he delivers nicely on this track. A really awesome tune to listen to. As this gradually approaches its end, it finishes gently and smoothly, with the trumpet playing on. Great.

5. Lazy Bird is the final track on this album. It begins with upbeat piano playing and snappy drums, launching into a trumpet solo section that sounds sweet and pretty. This seven-minute-long tune is a great ride. It continues the trumpet soloing and sounds absolutely wonderful in the process of it all. An enjoyably magical and pretty listening experience that sounds top. This may be a blast from the past, but it sounds enjoyable from start to finish. The trombone follows, illuminating the music’s variety further. These guys wasted no time or space on this record, and they sound impressive and passionate throughout. A really cool and inspired tune to listen to. This was the peak era of Jazz Music, and John Coltrane was one of the true greats of it all. His saxophone follows, playing away extremely well throughout. This leads nicely into the midsection, and John Coltrane rivals fellow contemporary Miles Davis as one of the true Jazz greats. This playing continues on into the second half of the tune, sounding truly amazing to hear. A piano solo follows, which sounds awesome and amazing to listen to. This has a colourful and layered sound with a gorgeous and decent approach to it all in a listening sense. John Coltrane has truly created a great album here. Some bass playing emerges as we gradually approach the end of it all, which sounds killer. Drum soloing then follows, which sounds really intricate, powerful, frenetic and precise. A really great listen, and the band follows up to finish a great album with a neat outro to this tune. Sweet, magical and unforgettably wonderful. It ends with some descending melodies and performances to match.

Without a doubt, this is a Jazz Music album that you must hear. It is smooth, pretty and sensationally amazing listening from beginning to end. John Coltrane obviously had a brilliant and fantastic approach to Jazz Music of his own sort. Undoubtedly, this is one of the best Jazz Music albums of all time, without a doubt or question. Should you listen to this album? If you love Jazz Music of any sort, this is a must to hear. This is a keeper.

Fantastic and vibrant music to listen to.

9/10