This mid-'90s DCC Jazz edition of the
John Coltrane (tenor sax)/
Paul Quinichette (tenor sax) title
Cattin' with Coltrane and Quinichette (1958) contains the same excellent remastering and bonus tracks as its standard silver pressing -- without the superfluous expense of a 24-karat gold disc. Audiophile pressing or naught, what remains as the centerpiece are the selections that the co-leads cut during a mid-May 1957 session with
Mal Waldron (piano), plus a rhythm section consisting of
Julian Euell (bass) and
Ed Thigpen (drums).
Waldron -- who penned all the album's originals -- proves why he is one of the best composer/arrangers for
Coltrane. His stylish tickling of the 88s sets the pace with a stealthy and sinister platform for
Coltrane's bluesy blowing, followed by
Quinichette's exceedingly soulful solo. "Sunday" exemplifies why
Quinichette was considered as a sonic successor to
Lester Young. Both of the primary constituents put forth much of their respective selves, with
Quinichette's reserved and thoughtful input balancing
Coltrane's inspired torrent of notes. Somewhat darker in tone, "Anatomy" is a springboard for indulging the development of singular and personable statements from
Coltrane and company. Another key component to
Cattin' is the unification of
Quinichette and
Coltrane on "Vodka." The pair is joined by
Waldron for a few energetic and lyrical submissions before converging for a sublime conclusion that will make enthusiasts pine for more. In terms of the extras, "Green Is Blue," "You Belong to Me," and "Birdland Jump" are all credited to the
Paul Quinichette Quintet and do not feature
Coltrane. ~ Lindsay Planer