To say that finding over eighty minutes of never before heard John Coltrane music is cause for celebration would be a ridiculous understatement. Now a little over half a century since John Coltrane left us and 55 years since these recording were made, new John Coltrane music has been discovered. All but one track on this two-disc set has never been released until now. How this material came to be “lost” is discussed in this two-disc package’s extensive liner notes.

These are recordings made at Rudy Van Gelder’s Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, recording studio (where else) on March 6, 1963. The band that had been with him for about a year at this point would come to be known as the classic quartet. From 1962 through 1965 they made some of the most exciting and innovative recordings in the history of American music.

Coltrane and the band were in the midst of a two-week residency at Birdland across the Hudson River. They had been working out this material in front of live audiences before they entered into the studio for this date. The propulsive rhythmic attack by pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones is absolutely stunning. They, along with their leader, take jazz traditions to some new and exciting places on Both Directions at Once.

Yet before these sessions Coltrane made some relatively conservative recordings…by his standards. These include albums with Duke Ellington and vocalist Johnny Hartman. He also recorded an album of ballads during this period.

Given this context there are those that might consider this wonderful new (old) piece of music as a transitional document of Coltrane. I would argue that Coltrane never transitioned or changed lanes. He kept his eyes focused on the road ahead, with hands gripping the steering wheel tight, he simply put the pedal to the metal. Coltrane’s instantly recognizable, relentless, attack on both tenor and soprano is exhilarating. His tone is unsympathetic and mesmerizing at the same time. As the album title suggests you can actually hear him going in both directions at once.

Given the fact that John Coltrane would die at the age of 40 just four years after these sessions were recorded makes this find that much more thrilling. Both Directions at Once: The Lost Album is a wonderful document which furthers the legacy of Coltrane. It is an important snapshot of an artist in the midst of what turned out to be a meteoric career. 

- David Mac