"7 CDs that chronicle the giant steps that John Coltrane took as a saxophonist and an artist during his hallowed 1959-61 stint with Atlantic. Here is every note he recorded for the label in chronological order, all documented inside the included comprehensive book. Landmark jazz..."

"This magnificent Box Set compiles everything John Coltrane recorded for Atlantic – his second long-term recording stint with a label following his Prestige period and preceding his final years on Impulse!. The first 6 CDs include all the 10 Coltrane’s LPs released on Atlantic (Giant Steps, Coltrane Jazz, My Favorite Things, Bags & Trane, Olé Coltrane, Coltrane Plays The Blues, Coltrane’s Sound, The Avant-Garde, The Coltrane Legacy, Alternate Takes), but the material is organized in chronological order (by session). The 7th CD adds over an hour of never before released material. All this music was recorded over a period of just over two years (January 1959 – May 1961)."

Review:

"John Coltrane not only made his reputation once and for all during his brief 1959-61 stay at Atlantic Records; he cut enough material to allow the label to continue releasing new albums until a year before his 1967 death. The Heavyweight Champion collects those masters plus revealing alternate takes and false starts in a typical handsome Rhino box that is also packed with informative notes and great Lee Friedlander photos. The sheer volume of music and emotion Coltrane and cohorts throw at the listener make those committed enough to jump right in not regret adding these seven CDs to their collections. Coltrane had kicked his multilayered sonic and spiritual quest into fifth gear by the time of his Atlantic debut, and to say he scorched plenty of earth while under the care of staff producer Nesuhi Ertegun is only the beginning of an ample description of his achievements at the label. He was to go further at Impulse!, where he ended his career, but Champion's tracks rate in the very small "beyond-five-stars" category."