Mating Call Review by AllMusic

Mating Call Review by Steve Leggett

This fine set, recorded on November 30, 1956, has been reissued several times, often as a John Coltrane date, but make no mistake, this is a Tadd Dameron session, and his elegant compositions are its key component. Coltrane was fresh off playing with Miles Davis in 1956 and was still a year away from heading his own sessions and three years away from recording Giant Steps, so it might be said that he was in transition, but then when was Coltrane not in transition? Dameron wisely gives him plenty of space to fill, and the rhythm section of John Simmons on bass and the great Philly Joe Jones on drums (not to mention Dameron's own characteristically bass-heavy piano style) give Trane a solid bottom to work with, and if the spiritual and edgy emotion of his later playing isn't quite in place yet, you can feel it coming. But again, this is Dameron's date, with each of the six selections an original Dameron composition. There's so much to marvel at here, including the Bahamian rhythms of the title track, "Mating Call," the gorgeous build of "Soultrane" (often the title when this set is issued as a Coltrane date) and the undeniable grace and elegance of "On a Misty Night" (based in part on the melody line to "September in the Rain"). The straight blues piece "Romas" is also a lot of fun, particularly for Coltrane. Mating Call, or whatever title it sports, whether under Dameron's name or Coltrane's, is a solid and frequently overlooked gem. Don't hesitate to pick it up.

Mating Call User Reviews

To Write a User Review, Log In to Your AllMusic Account Log In Don't Have an Account?

Philippe A November 12, 2015

Le pianiste Tadd Dameron (1917-1965) est surtout "connu" comme l'un des grands compositeurs bop, auteur de nombreux standards (comme "Our delight" souvent joué par Dizzy Gillespie ou encore "Hot House" ou "Lady Bird" ). C'est aussi un excellent arrangeur. Le pianiste Tadd Dameron a très peu enregistré en leader. En 1949 il a co-dirigé un quintet avec Miles Davis qui a fait une grande tournée européenne (exemple à Paris au Festival International De Jazz). Il a joué avec Charlie Parker puis Fats Navarro. On appreciera aussi ses qualités d'arrangeur à la tête, en 1962, d'un big band au générique de rêve avec l'album The Magic Touch

Ce disque "Mating Call", enregistré en novembre 1956, est souvent présenté (à tort) comme l'un des premiers enregistrements en leader de Coltrane. Ce CD permet d'apprécier un quartet de haute tenue avec John Simmons à la contrebasse et Philly Joe Jones à la batterie. Les 6 morceaux sont des compositions de Tadd. Coltrane, qui à la même époque fait partie du quintet de Miles Davis, est déjà magistral, en particulier sur la superbe ballade "Soultrane" (ne pas confondre avec son album Soultrane) . On appréciera aussi le jeu raffiné de Tadd Dameron sur "Romas". Le disque s'achève sur un échange impétueux entre Coltrane et Philly Joe Jones.

Was this review helpful?

Report Inappropriate

David Bartholome April 4, 2026

My version of "Soultrane" (Prestige 7142) is an entirely different album--different players, different songs. And oddly, the one Dameron composition on the album is not "Soultrane," but "Good Bait." (The players are Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Art Taylor.) Anyway, both albums--"Mating Call" and "Soultrane"--are eminently worth acquiring.

Was this review helpful?

Report Inappropriate

Mating Call Track List

Mating Call

Tadd Dameron

John Coltrane / Tadd Dameron