John Coltrane - Settin' The Pace (1961) {Rudy Van Gelder Remaster} [TR24][SM][OF]

Jazz saxophonist John Coltrane's album Settin' The Pacewas originally released in 1961. Coltrane had recorded some unissued recordings while under the label Prestige, after his fame grew and he was no longer with the label they used these recordings and released albums without Coltrane's approval. This was one such album. The decision to release this album now is to a certain extent determined by economic considerations, but it also happens to throw light on certain aspects of the jazz business which warrant discussion. Had the album been released at the time it was recorded it would have reached the small nucleus of Coltrane followers then active, and of the rest been largely ignored.

One aspect of Coltrane’s work, apparent here, is just beginning to be noticed. He is one of our most lyrical musicians, but it is not a standard form of lyricism—it does not gush and does not cloy—and that quality went unnoticed for a long time when the discussions of his work were primarily concerned with the technical innovations he was making. Settin' The Pace features popular song "I See Your Face Before Me", composed by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz.

Recorded March 26th, 1958 at Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, NJ.