News

"John Coltrane: The Complete Sun Ship Sessions" on 3 180 Gram LPs Coming From Mosaic

Michael Fremer  |  Apr 6, 2013

Mosaic Records will issue on May 21st a 3 LP set of The Complete Sun Ship Sessions including newly discovered and previously unissued alternative takes from one of the John Coltrane Quartet's final studio sessions.

This is the classic quartet of Coltrane, McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones was recorded on August 25th 1965 but the original single LP The Sun Ship, heavily edited from the original takes, wasn't released until 1971.

This new release is sourced from newly discovered original reels of tape and includes the set's five original compositions unedited, in the recorded sequence. It also includes in-studio patter.

These sessions were recorded at RCA's 24th street studios by engineer Bob Simpson—a name familiar to many audiophiles. Simpson also recorded Sonny Rollins, Charlie Mingus, Albert Ayler and many other jazz greats as well as hundreds of albums for RCA, Impulse and other labels.

The discovered reels are three-track masters with tenor sax on one channel, piano and bass on another and drums on another, which afforded mix down engineer Kevin Reeves a great opportunity to get the balance just right. Mosaic claims the mix far exceeds the results obtained originally.

Mosaic remastered and pressed on 180 gram at RTI.

Luddites can get the set on CD from Verve on April 16th but it will be worth waiting for the reel deal available exclusively from Mosaic Records.

COMMENTS
Jody's picture
Submitted by Jody on Sat, 2013-04-06 09:35

the press blurb I read said that this was remixed at Sterling and that the lacquers were cut by Kevin Gray. Looks promising.

ViciAudio's picture
Submitted by ViciAudio on Sat, 2013-04-06 13:41

I wonder if the remix was made by Kevin Reeves 100% analog all the way to the final master that was sent to Kevin Gray to cut the vinyl records...

The press release isn't quite clear about that, at this point I'm convinced that a digital master from the new remix was used to cut the records, and for the price tag they ask I find it to be really a bad option. I hope I'm wrong...

 

Michael Fremer's picture
Submitted by Michael Fremer on Thu, 2013-04-11 07:43

I will try to clarify. However, if the digital master was 96/24 it should sound better than the CD version....

coaster92's picture
Submitted by coaster92 on Fri, 2014-02-28 12:16

I really like the set, A top quality reissue. Sun ship hasTrane firmly in the avant garde, which is not for everyone. The interplay is very strong in the quartet, and especially Elvin Jones with Trane. The sound is immediate clear and dynamic (with some overload distortion here and there). Overall I think Bob Simpson at RCA got better sound on Tranes Horn and Elvins drums than any of the Van Gelder Coltrane Impulse sessions. I dont know if this  is head to toe analog. The Lp's are among the more satisfying reissues I have gotten lately, the sound is very good, if you are familiar with 60's jazz, I'd say it is above average. Both the "limited edition" Mosaic records 3 Lp vinyl  box and the "limited edition" Hippo-select/Universal 2 CD set (available from Hipo site or other vendors such as Amazon) are well worth getting if you are a fan of '65 Trane, or otherwise ready to take the next step from "A Love Supreme".

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