Impulse! announced The Tiberi Tapes on September 23, the centenary of John Coltrane’s birth. The collection is scheduled for November 6 in four-LP, three-CD and digital editions, drawing on private recordings made in clubs in New York and Philadelphia during the early 1960s.
Saxophonist Frank Tiberi recorded the performances as material for his own musical study. The announcement describes a portable reel-to-reel setup and an archive that grew over several years. A version of Giant Steps, identified as Giant Steps (226 BPM), accompanies the announcement as an advance selection.
An archive with an audible history
The source of these tapes is central to understanding the release. They were not made as a modern multitrack concert production. Microphone placement, changing reels and incomplete documentation can affect what survives, so historical value and pristine sound should not be treated as the same promise.
For listeners, the attraction is an additional view of Coltrane’s music in performance. Comparing a tune’s shape with a familiar commercial recording can be useful, while allowing for the different setting and surviving sound. The official notes explain how Tiberi approached the recordings and why he kept returning to them.
Readers selecting a physical edition can compare its program with the digital version. The format names establish the available configurations, but the detailed track list is the better guide to what each contains.
Source: Official release announcement.
