Ballads

Released at the height of his fame as an avant-garde explorer, this album surprised many by showcasing John Coltrane's breathtaking mastery of the ballad. Rather than unleashing his 'sheets of sound,' he reverently explores the melodies and harmonies of standards with sublime tenderness. His tone is warm and sumptuous, and his improvisations are models of lyrical grace, proving the 'angry young man' of jazz was also one of its greatest romantics.