Blue World by John Coltrane

Blue World is an album by John Coltrane, recorded in 1964 as a film soundtrack and released on September 27, 2019, via Impulse! Records. The album was recorded at Van Gelder Studio with the Classic Quartet in between the Crescent and A Love Supreme sessions for the film Le chat dans le sac. Director Gilles Groulx was friends with Jimmy Garrison and he used that relationship to request songs for Coltrane's quartet to record. Groulx flew to the United States to attend the recording sessions for Coltrane's only soundtrack work and Coltrane recorded it without informing his record label. After three hours in the studio, Groulx took the master tapes with him to Canada. When the director ended up shelving most of the music, it went unreleased until 2019, when Coltrane's long-time label Impulse! Records decided to release it, with the original composition "Blue World" being released on August 16, 2019 along with the announcement of the album. Release was delayed by several years due to the NFB owning the rights to the tape itself but Impulse! having the rights to release it as an album. The recordings were stored away until the early 21st century, when an archivist from the National Film Board of Canada was tasked with assembling Groulx's work; the government agency negotiated with Impulse! to have the album released. Personnel: The John Coltrane Quartet John Coltrane – leader, composer, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, production Jimmy Garrison – double bass Elvin Jones – drums McCoy Tyner – piano Additional personnel: Ken Druker – production Ashley Kahn – liner notes Kevin Reeves – mastering Rudy Van Gelder – recording, mixing, mastering ℗ 2019 National Film Board Of Canada