I personally own over 20 Coltrane CDs. Up until the release of Black Pearls, the classic Blue Train (MFSL) had been the finest recording quality in my collection. You can't deny the performance on Blue Train however the recording via the XRCD process on Black Pearls is awe inspiring. I can't get over the presence in Trane's sax. To think this record was made in 1958, four years after the advent of stereo, compounds my amazement.

Musically, the record is in the upper echelon of Coltrane records. Recorded in Hackensack, New Jersey in 1958 the record features John Coltrane on tenor sax, Donald Byrd on trumpet, Red Garland on Piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Arthur Taylor on drums. The record in uptempo and swinging throughout. Black Pearls is highly recommend!