In 1963 Coltrane was in the midst of a groundbreaking period of artistic exploration. Yet again, the world's great saxophone master was redefining his stylistic approach to the horn. The lengthy modal compositions which he performed on stage became more and more a harbinger of his abstract work to come. Despite this, Coltrane's in-studio recorded output during 1963 reflected little of this work.
A newly released minor blues track entitled 11383 (a title derived from an in-studio cataloging system) has Coltrane performing a beautifully structured, and quite understated solo on soprano. This recording was released earlier this week in anticipation of a full-length record called Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album. This album is a welcome gift from one of the 20th century's most innovative artists, and a band in the midst of their finest work together. I'd also like to point out that on the whole this is a very approachable solo, and it could be a great teaching tool for students. I hope you enjoy this transcription!
