More songs like John Coltrane's Naima?

February 12, 2022 5:18 PM

I adore John Coltrane's song Naima. Fragile, melancholy, and just a little bit ... off, harmonically speaking in that mid-century kind of way. I want to hear more songs like it. I ask this both as a listener and as a player. I used to play jazz a fair bit, and I loved getting lost improvising on songs like Naima and Bill Evans' Blue in Green (which has a similar vibe for me), and would like to do that again. Any suggestions?
posted by threecheesetrees to Media & Arts (11 answers total)

I'm not sure if this exactly meets your criteria, but I really like Mathew Halsall with the Gondwana Orchestra and some commenters talk about 'the spirit of John and Alice Coltrane'. Hopefully the link takes you to a YouTube playlist, if not here's a link to their song 'Tribute to Alice Coltrane' .
posted by TimHare at 5:38 PM on February 12, 2022 [1 favorite]

Maybe Final from Ascenseur pour L'échafaud?
posted by juv3nal at 5:41 PM on February 12, 2022 [3 favorites]

Here's a handful that come to mind:

Central Park West

On Green Dolphin Street

Lonely Woman

Afternoon Variant
posted by caseyblu at 8:40 PM on February 12, 2022 [2 favorites]

Little Peace by Charles Lloyd
posted by crLLC at 11:10 AM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Oooh... Duquility from Mal Waldron is definitely this vibe.
posted by GamblingBlues at 12:53 PM on February 13, 2022 [2 favorites]

Not to be repetitive but are you familiar with the John Handy Quintet's Naima? It is an interesting take.
posted by y2karl at 4:35 PM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: If you don't mind vocal, Chet Baker when he was older is exactly that vibe. For instance, Blame It On My Youth or Imagination (the whole album is wonderful, imo).

Tsegue-Maryam Guebrou - The Homeless Wanderer

The Lounge Lizard's Bob the Bob (Home)

Floating Points - Pharoah Sanders - Movement I
posted by dobbs at 5:12 PM on February 13, 2022 [3 favorites]

John Abercrombie -- Timeless
posted by y2karl at 6:48 PM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: I'm tempted to mark these all 'best answer' as they're all beautiful pieces of music. Duquility is indeed definitely this vibe, and Dobbs, I like the way your suggestions kind of orbit the vibe, I guess (describing aesthetics is so weird). I'm very grateful for the suggestions so far; if anyone thinks of anything else, keep adding.
posted by threecheesetrees at 10:37 PM on February 13, 2022 [1 favorite]

Any Thelonious Monk ballad, especially on solo piano.
posted by Furnace of Doubt at 11:27 AM on February 14, 2022

A few more maybes:

Bouquet (Bobby Hutcherson, off "Happenings")
Something Sweet, Something Tender (Eric Dolphy, off "Out to Lunch")
Mood (Miles Davis off "ESP")
Footprints (Miles Davis off "Miles Smiles")
In a Silent Way (The Sound of the Sky) (Nat Adderley off "Harlem Nocturne")
Beatrice (Sam Rivers off "Fuschia Swing Sound")
Where? (Ron Carter off "Where?")
Human Nature (Vijay Iyer Trio off "Accelerando")
Infant Eyes (Wayne Shorter off "Speak No Evil")
posted by GamblingBlues at 10:08 AM on February 25, 2022