"Sun Ship" was recorded between "Ascension" (Impulse!, 1966) and "First Meditations" (Impulse!, 1966), and maybe more significant, just after the quartet performed a live version of "A Love Supreme" at the Festival Mondial du Jazz Antibes, Juan-les-Pins, France in July of 1965. This session is evidence of the saxophonist working between two worlds. The five tracks retain the feel of his "A Love Supreme" (Impulse!, 1965) session, but with an edgier, more agitated sound. The title track finds Coltrane work and rework a simple phrase with a bristling energy that infects Tyner's solo and is driven onward by Jones' muscular drumming. "Dearly Beloved" maintains a ballad-like ceremonial feel as Coltrane explores the upper end of his horn. "Attaining" is the closest the quartet comes to the music on A Love Supreme with Coltrane's incantations with his horn. Like "Psalm," it is easy to hear the saxophonist speaking a prayer of notes here, while the quartet falls easily into the "Love Supreme" mode. Garrison is given center stage with "Ascent," as he delivers a five-plus minute opening solo. The track blossoms into a brief saxophone workout which in live performance might last up to an hour of exploration.

"Sun Ship" has often been an overlooked addition to the Quartet's catalog. This impressive remastered reissue tells us to pay heed. — (via All About Jazz)