October 8, 1963

The original "Jazz Corner of the World" at 1678 Broadway, NYC

The first LP I ever bought was Dave Brubeck's "Time Out."  Still have it, and it has aged like a fine French wine -- even better now than then.  Most things (think 70s fashion) are quickly dated and lose their appeal.  So we know what a classic is: that rare other that defies the damage of time and tide.

Someone decided to record the John Coltrane Quartet at the original Birdland club (1949 - 1965) on a particular night.  The album issued a few months later only included three selections (just 27 minutes +), with two added from a studio session from following month.  These five cuts on "Coltrane Live at Birdland" are all you really need to know, so be sure to take this disc when you depart for that desert island.

Another thing lost today, in our era of mindless "beats" and tattooed morons, is the extensive, thoughtful liner notes that used to be commissioned for LPs.  Poet LeRoi Jones wrote the essay for this recording, and I'm glad he did.  He says "the few people who were at Birdland that night of October 8 who really heard what Coltrane, Jones, Tyner and Garrison were doing..."  Emphasis on heard, because the club could seat 500 and surely it was pretty full for this appearance of giants, but people are also out to socialize, too. Ah, if one could go back in time...

I'm in full agreement with Mr. Jones on the role that drummer Elvin Jones played:  "...rising in the background like something out of nature...a fattening thunder, storm clouds or jungle war clouds."  His work alone bears several listening-throughs, it's that surprising and bold.  And Mr.Coltrane plays soprano sax in addition to tenor, a delicious treat.  On top of all that, legendary Rudy Van Gelder was the recording engineer -- a rare alignment of the stars!

Stars, indeed: the club was named after already popular Charlie "Yardbird" Parker, who was on hand the opening night.  Jack Kerouac lyrically described hearing Lester Young there in "On The Road."  There was a dark side, too.  In 1959, Miles Davis was beaten by a city policeman while outside on the sidewalk.  The same year co-owner Irving Levy was stabbed to death after a January midnight and nobody noticed for hours. 

All these people have gone on now, but the magic of that one night is ours still, to be grateful for.