"Take the Coltrane" is a spirited blues from the 1962 album Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, a summit meeting between two jazz titans. Composed by Ellington and titled as a playful tribute to his collaborator, this 12-bar blues in F major swings at a brisk tempo and features extended solos from all three melodic voices. Ellington opens with two concise, witty piano choruses that showcase his inimitable rhythmic sense and stride-influenced left hand. Coltrane then unleashes eleven fiery choruses on tenor saxophone, building a towering improvisational edifice with the relentless harmonic exploration and rhythmic intensity that characterized his mature style. Bassist Jimmy Garrison, from Coltrane's quartet, takes four walking bass choruses that demonstrate his robust tone and melodic invention. The track demonstrates how naturally these two seemingly disparate musical worlds could connect: Ellington's orchestral elegance meeting Coltrane's spiritual intensity on the common ground of the blues. Aaron Bell and Sam Woodyard share rhythm section duties with Garrison, creating a hybrid ensemble that bridges two distinct eras of jazz. The recording captures Coltrane at the height of his powers, his playing both respectful of the tradition Ellington represented and utterly forward-looking.
