2011 reissue - After establishing himself as a star on the rise with the Miles Davis quintet, the Thelonious Monk quartet, and various Prestige recordings with Sonny Rollins, Hank Mobley, and Tadd Dameron, John Coltrane made his debut as a leader on this excellent self-titled 1957 release. The 6-song set finds the tenor sax giant joined by John Splawn (trumpet), Sahib Shihab (baritone sax), Mal Waldron (piano), Red Garland (piano), Paul Chambers (bass) and Al Heath (drums) on a pair of Trane's own compositions in "Straight Street" and "Chronic Blues," alongside Cal Massey's "Bakai" and pop fare such as "Violets for Your Furs," "While My Lady Sleeps" and "Time Was."
