A collection of live John Coltrane recordings known as the Tiberi Tapes will be released for the first time this year. The album, captured between 1961 and 1965, forms part of a year-long celebration of the saxophonist's 100th birthday in September. It will appear as a Record Store Day exclusive on Impulse! on April 18, followed by a wider release later in the year.
The Tiberi Tapes consist of recordings made at jazz clubs in New York and Philadelphia from 1961 to 1965 by saxophonist Frank Tiberi. Previously held in a private collection, these mythical live performances of John Coltrane's work will now be made available to the public.
This release coincides with the "Coltrane 100" initiative marking the centennial of Coltrane's birth on September 23, 1926. Impulse! Records is handling the distribution, starting with the Record Store Day exclusive on April 18 and expanding to a broader release in September.
Additional elements of the celebration include a new video for "Acknowledgement," the opening track of Coltrane's album A Love Supreme. Directed by AG Rojas, who has collaborated with Kamasi Washington and Mitski, the video recreates the recording session at New Jersey's Van Gelder Studios.
The programming extends to reissues of classic albums such as Ascension, Africa/Brass, and Impressions, along with a new best-of compilation focusing on Coltrane's 1957 and 1958 sessions. A sound installation, overseen by hi-fi specialist Devon Turnbull, will be featured at New York's Cooper Hewitt museum.
On September 23, the Hollywood Bowl will host "Coltrane 100: Legacy," presenting orchestral adaptations of Coltrane's compositions by Wynton Marsalis, saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, and a 16-piece symphony. Furthermore, the John and Alice Coltrane Home in Dix Hills, New York, and the John Coltrane House in Philadelphia will open to visitors for the first time this year.