The 1960 video (above) is from John Coltrane’s first time in Europe, touring as a member of one of Miles Davis’ first great quintets. On Green Dolphin Street was recorded in Dusseldorf Germany, and features Coltrane on tenor, Wynton Kelly playing piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Jimmy Cobb at the drums. Miles sat out this particular evening, thus leaving the spotlight all to Trane.
(Upper right) Stan Getz joins the quartet in a medley of standards with John soloing on What’s New? and Stan doing the chores with Moonlight in Vermont. Alabama (Lower right) is a powerful tune penned by Coltrane in response to the 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, which killed four young Black girls.
