They Say It's Wonderful (Johnny Hartman’s version)

Johnny Hartman (vocals), John Coltrane (tenor sax), McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). From the album John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman (1963).

When Johnny Hartman was offered the opportunity to record with John Coltrane, he had his doubts because he was not a jazz singer and did not think they would complement each other. However, the union of both, surprisingly, worked very well. Hartman is splendid in all the ballads. Coltrane's playing is magnificent, affectionate and exploratory. He only played tenor sax throughout the recording, not soprano sax. The song was written for a musical and then appeared in a movie, and the album has become a ballad classic.

They say that falling in love in the moonlight is wonderful. I do not remember who told me, but he assured me that love and romance is magnificent. The theme is introduced by McCoy Tyner. Then the warm voice of Hartman is heard and Coltrane answers him with a brief sentence. Hartman continues to expose his narration wrapped around the piano and the saxophone. Repeat that they say its wonderful. Enter Coltrane with his unmistakable accent corroborating his words and adding his own opinion. Hartman returns expressing his ideas and concludes assuring that this is what they say.

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© Impulse! Records