I noticed this Coltrane Album was not reviewed. Coltrane infuses the title track, Lush Life with sweet tender beauty. Both raw and refined, it is a masterful outpouring of love that meshes soul and sound into a moment of artistic genesis. The rest of the album is great as well. I think it's one of Coltrane's best, though of course, there are many beautiful Coltrane albums. but this one is unusually gripping for it's sweet intensity. In film they call such an overlooked gem, a Sleeper.

This is an early offering by Coltrane. He plays with a variety of sidemen (no piano on "Someone in Love" for example), and doesn't yet play "sheets of sound", but this album is definately 'Trane.

He's a little more lyrical here, not in as much a hurry. He also plays some standards, such as "I Love You", rather than all originals.

The highlight of the album is the title track. In fact, this may be the defining recording of Lush Life. Unlike the other tracks, 'Trane has a foil in Donald Byrd on trumpet, and the two play beautifully together. It's also an opportunity for some extended improvisation, as the track is over 10 minutes long.

This is a great Coltrane album to start with if you are new to the music.

The interesting thing about this Cd is the tracks where the mysterious (ABSENT) piano player is not. I suspect that(even though his name is not mentioned), it was probably Red Garland, who was fired for being late by Miles Davis. The Cd is examplary of Coltrane developing what was to be called by Cannonball Adderley :sheets of sound." I think it is one of Coltrane's early best, next to Soultrane. Lush Life is absolutely beautiful.

3 1/2

LL is undoubtedly a premier collection of 50's saxophone ballads from the up-and-coming horned titan, but lacks the unbounded pulse much of his stronger work possessed and can often, despite potent, if restrained soloing, become mired in standardized predictability.