The early 1960s was a creative, prolific and defining period for John Coltrane. This six-album set—in hear-all mono—finds Coltrane exploring and reinventing the blues, hard bop and progressive jazz, while gently stretching into free-jazz territory, walking the tightrope of creative desire but never getting “too out there.” Giant Steps (1960) reveals a plethora of new possibilities. The fittingly titled album finds the preeminent saxophonist doing somersaults over classic jazz patterns—a glimpse of future directions—while on Bags & Trane (1961), Coltrane’s post-bebop runs contrast perfectly against Milt Jackson’s vibes. At a time when many jazz artists were exploring samba, Ole Coltrane (1962) offers a fresh, Latin-influenced approach, a musical vision more akin to a piercing bullfight. Yet, there’s a deeper, more spiritual side to this sax master, evidenced by his longing (at times painful) solos throughout Coltrane Plays the Blues (1962), while 1966’s The Avant-Garde, featuring trumpeter Don Cherry, seeks enlightenment and awakening through abstract passages and sonic outbursts. The Coltrane Legacy (1970) adds a selection of then-previously unreleased material culled from the original sessions. This beautifully mastered 180-gram album set reveals a man ever-searching, reaching beyond perceived musical barriers toward that eventual “greatest` ever” designation. Start your Coltrane exploration here.