John Coltrane, "The Major Works of John Coltrane" (Impulse!, 1992)

With "A Love Supreme," recorded in late 1964, saxophone great John Coltrane embarked on a series of lengthy pieces that lasted pretty much the remainder of his life, which unfortunately was cut short in 1967, when he was just 40.

Jazz aficianados usually put "A Love Supreme" on a pedestal, citing it as some of the finest work by a true genius. And it's popular among listeners who find the music very tuneful and accessible.

The same can't quite be said for the material on "The Major Works," a compilation that covers Coltrane's lengthiest recordings of 1965. That year goes down in Coltrane annals as when he really started pushing the boundaries (including recording while under the influence of LSD, which was perfectly legal at the time). "The Major Works" serves as evidence that he was operating on another plane entirely.

The centerpiece of the two-disc compilation is "Ascension," a composition that's presented in two separate versions here, both clocking in at right around 40 minutes. The aural excursions of his 11-piece band make for fascinating listening, but not if you're trying to host a party. If you listen to it around the unenlightened, you'll hear the word "noise" in short order. Don't let that scare you away, and make sure you approach with an open mind.

A more concise piece is "Om," at slightly under half an hour. It opens and closes with a rather harrowing incantation, with plenty of exploratory improvisation in the middle, highlighted by the piano playing of McCoy Tyner (the last surviving member of the legendary John Coltrane Quintet). The players took LSD - again, legal at the time - for this session, as documented in several Coltrane biographies.

The two other "major works" are "Kulu Se Mama," with African-influenced vocals provided by its composer, an obscure percussionist named Juno Lewis, and "Selflessness," which sounds more like what we generally think of as jazz than any of the other titles.

If you've heard about John Coltrane and want to check him out for the first time, you might want to start with relative easy listening like "A Love Supreme" (also on Impulse!), "My Favorite Things" (Atlantic) or "Blue Train" (Blue Note). But if you're familiar with him and want to get adventurous - way more adventurous - give "The Major Works" a spin.