Africa / Brass

As John Coltrane's inaugural album for Impulse! Records, 'Africa / Brass' dramatically expands his quartet to a 21-piece orchestra, creating a dense, powerful big band sound unique in his discography. The arrangements, co-credited to Eric Dolphy and McCoy Tyner, feature an unconventional brass section with French horns and euphonium, providing a rich harmonic backdrop for Coltrane's extended modal explorations on saxophone. Centered around the epic title track, the album contrasts these intense, exploratory originals with a distinctive soprano saxophone-led interpretation of the traditional folk song "Greensleeves," marking a pivotal and ambitious new direction in Coltrane's artistic journey.