Article Contributed by Craft Recordings
Published on January 24, 2026
This year marks the centennial of John Coltrane, whose groundbreaking artistry as a saxophonist, composer, and band leader made him one of the most influential musical figures of the 20th century. To honor his immeasurable impact, Craft Recordings looks back at Coltrane’s earliest days as a leader with a curated collection of originals and standards. Produced with the full support of the John Coltrane Estate, The Best of John Coltrane draws from the saxophonist’s 1957–1958 sessions—a period of rapid artistic evolution as he established his sound. These defining recordings—including “Traneing In,” “Theme for Ernie,” and “Trinkle, Tinkle” (with Thelonious Monk)—helped cement Coltrane’s legacy as an innovative force in jazz music.
A perfect introduction for new listeners and a prized acquisition for aficionados, The Best of John Coltrane arrives March 13th exclusively on vinyl. In addition to a classic black pressing, the album can also be found in two limited-edition variants: a Baby Blue LP (only at Books-a-Million) and a Violet LP (Barnes & Noble).
A giant in the modern musical landscape, John Coltrane (1926 – 1967) transformed the sound of jazz as a saxophonist, leader, and composer. The pioneering artist established himself in the mid-50s, playing as a sideman for the likes of Sonny Rollins, Thelonious Monk, and, most prominently, Miles Davis. Then, in 1957, he took his career to the next level, signing with Prestige Records to record his first albums as a leader. These formative sessions—captured primarily in Rudy Van Gelder’s famed Hackensack Studio between 1957-58—found Coltrane coming into his own, as he developed his rapid-fire “Sheets of Sound” improvisational style.
The recordings, which resulted in several years’ worth of albums, included some of the saxophonist’s earliest compositions on record, including “Traneing In.” The bluesy original, which appeared on 1958’s John Coltrane with the Red Garland Trio, paired Coltrane with his former Miles Davis Quintet bandmates—pianist Red Garland and bassist Paul Chambers—alongside drummer Art Taylor. The all-star line-up reunited several months later to record “Theme for Ernie” (off 1958’s Soultrane), a moving ballad penned by guitarist Fred Lacey in honor of the late saxophonist Ernie Henry.
Another high-profile collaboration showcased here is with legendary pianist Thelonious Monk, with whom Coltrane famously performed during a storied six-month residency at New York’s Five Spot Café. The Monk-penned “Trinkle, Tinkle” was recorded with bassist Wilbur Ware and drummer Shadow Wilson and released on the 1961 Jazzland title, Thelonious Monk with John Coltrane.
This period also found the horn player putting his inimitable touch on a variety of standards from the Great American Songbook, including the Baker/Fragos/Gasparre hit, “I Hear a Rhapsody” (featuring Garland, Chambers, and drummer Albert Heath) and Cole Porter’s “I Love You,” (with Taylor and bassist Earl May) both of which appeared on 1961’s Lush Life. Another highlight is the Romberg/Hammerstein classic “Lover Come Back to Me,” performed exquisitely by Garland, Chambers, Taylor, and trumpeter Donald Byrd, from Coltrane’s 1964 album, Black Pearls.
By the turn of the ’60s, the virtuosic musician was already shifting his approach—moving away from the densely packed “Sheets of Sound” style and toward the more open, exploratory language of modal improvisation. Yet, these early sessions remain an important chapter in Coltrane’s artistic evolution, capturing the innovative artist on the cusp of fame, while laying the groundwork for the even more revolutionary work that followed.
Click here to pre-order The Best of John Coltrane.
The Best of John Coltrane Tracklist
Side A
1. I Hear a Rhapsody
2. Traneing In
3. Theme for Ernie
Side B
1. I Love You
2. Lover Come Back to Me
3. Trinkle, Tinkle
About Craft Recordings:
Craft Recordings is home to one of the largest and most essential collections of master recordings and compositions in the world. Its storied repertoire includes landmark releases from icons such as Joan Baez, John Coltrane, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Celia Cruz, Miles Davis, Isaac Hayes, John Lee Hooker, Little Richard, R.E.M., and Joan Sebastian. Plus, the catalog recordings of celebrated contemporary acts including A Day to Remember, Evanescence, Alison Krauss, Nine Inch Nails, Taking Back Sunday and Violent Femmes, to name just a few. Renowned imprints with catalogs issued under the Craft banner include Fania, Fantasy, Fearless, Musart, Nitro, Panart, Prestige, Riverside, Rounder, Specialty, Stax, Vanguard, Varèse Sarabande, Vee-Jay and Victory, among many others. Craft creates thoughtfully curated packages, with a meticulous devotion to quality and a commitment to preservation—ensuring that these recordings endure for new generations to discover. Craft is also home to the Billie Holiday and Tammy Wynette estates which preserve and protect their respective names, likeness and music through day-to-day legacy management of these cultural trailblazers.
