John Coltrane's Sun Ship was one of the last-and finest-chapters in the story of his classic quartet. The album profiles the saxophonist in transition, from the secular (with standards like 'Dearly Beloved') to the sacred (with compositions like 'Amen'). Deepening his spiritual journey, Trane discovers the sound-the urgent cry-that marks his mystique and assures his immortality. But it was released four years after Coltrane's death, in 1971, culled from session tapes by Coltrane's wife Alice.
The new release Sun Ship: The Complete Session 2-CD set is the result of an extraordinary discovery: the entire session as it was recorded on August 26, 1965, with Trane, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Jimmy Garrison and drummer Elvin Jones, with producer Bob Thiele. Newly mixed and remastered in high-resolution audio, this special release includes all alternate takes, conversation between the musicians, their leader and their producer, and more than one hour of unreleased music.
The 16-page booklet features an essay by renowned Coltrane scholar David Wild and rare photos by Chuck Stewart, who shot the original album cover. Sun Ship: The Complete Session is a rare, essential snapshot of an icon at work - the evolution of a masterpiece.