Song: “Naima”
Original Artist: John Coltrane (1959)
Shelby’s Favorite Cover Version: Pharoah Sanders (1987)
“Naima” was first recorded as a loving ode to John Coltrane’s then-wife Juanita Naima Grubbs. Nearly three decades after its release, saxophonist Pharoah Sanders skillfully blends the ballad’s slow, evocative arrangements with elements of free jazz in an expressive tribute album to the iconic “Trane”— with reverent, serene vibes sure to bring out the inner romantic in any listener.
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