On Impulse: Live at The Pump House Watford

In an exciting new project, tenor saxist Mark Lockheart and vocalist Marvin Muoneké brought a fabulous 1963 album to life and did so much more than simply pay tribute to the classic 'John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman'.

Webb, Pyne, Muoneke, Vitale, Lockheart @rw_crowley

Together with Alex Webb (piano), Charlie Pyne (bass) and Alfonso Vitale (drums), the entire quintet entertained a packed Pump House Theatre in Watford with tracks from the 1963 album, original arrangements and new compositions.

This year is the centenary of John Coltrane’s birth and there’s no better reason to reimagine some of his classic performances, particularly with Lockheart’s pure tenor sound and dexterity. I chatted with Mark back in 2024 following the release of his album Smiling and his style of sax playing has always been one I admired.

When John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman was released in 1963, it was immediately a success, partly thanks to the sidemen McCoy Tyner (piano), Jimmy Garrison (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums).  Another element of the success was the rarity of Coltrane performing with a vocalist. So well-respected has it remained that it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013.

The opening track on the 1963 album is the Irving Berlin They Say It’s Wonderful and it really was wonderful when performed by Muoneké and Lockheart. Next up was the Sammy Cahn Dedicated to You, which was a particular chance to hear the pure sound of Lockheart’s tenor.

Mark Lockheart @rw_crowley

Marvin Muoneké @rw_crowley

Billy Strayhorn’s Lush Life opens side two of the 1963 album and together, Lockheart and Muoneké channeled their inner Coltrane and Hartman. You Are Too Beautiful and Autumn Serenade equally nodded to the originals.

Where this evening became particularly interesting was in the adaptation of Coltrane instrumentals that used lyrics created by pianist and composer Alex Webb. Later in 1963, Trane worked with the Duke and released Duke Ellington and John Coltrane, including the brilliant blues Take the Coltrane. This 2026 quintet took that and also added their own version of Ellington’s Angelica.

This certainly was more than a tribute show (although it paid tribute to the album extraordinarily well). The quintet brought the tunes right up to date with Forbidden Fruit, the successful single from 2025 written by Muoneké and Webb. Apparently, there is more original material on the way.

Finishing the evening with My One and Only Love, the Wood/Mellin tune, brought this whole evening right up to date, with a tip of the hat to the 1963 version.

The marvellous Watford Jazz Junction continues to present a wide range of performances and particularly the marvellous Emma Smith at the Watford Palace Theatre on 9 May (tickets available here)