If I could curl up anywhere for some peace and quiet it would be inside Chasin’ The Trane, the side-long third cut on John Coltrane’s Live At The Village Vanguard album. Coltrane’s tenor sounds like it’s being chased by Jimmy Garrison’s bass. Elvin Jones, again, beatin’ those drums like they owe him money – and they did. Just this trio – McCoy Tyner perhaps beat me to it, maybe he’s curled up deep inside there already. For you just sorta feel his presence, a part of the regular quartet, even though he doesn’t play a note on this tune. It’s this sort of tune and this sorta playing that had Miles Davis remind JC that the best way to finish saying what you were saying was to ‘take the damn horn out of your mouth’. But Coltrane couldn’t. And didn’t. And the world’s a better place for music like this. There’d be no peace and actual quiet, but that’s why I like it. This is the cacophony that feels like a personal symphony. This is all I ever need. Elvin’s bass drum kicking me in the ribs. Garrison’s bass nodding and prodding, Coltrane’s horn pulling and tugging, tearing and running. Go chase that Trane. No ticket required. Just jump on board, bury your head down inside one of several choruses. Hold on tight. It’ll all be alright. In the end. Let’s hope it never ends. Keep the damn horn in your mouth!

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