The jazz saxophonist had achieved his own legendary status in an era when pop music dominated the record industry. However, it was important for the music press and its readers to stress Coltrane’s importance in popular culture, even at the height of the Summer of Love. Olé is one of Coltrane’s finest albums, blessed with a fine supporting cast of musicians all seeking space for self-expression yet staying within the bounds of the arrangements and themes. The result is a timeless quality to their performances. If we use the term ‘free’to describe the music, it actually suggests it is free from self indulgence.
