Released in September 1961, "Africa/Brass" was John Coltrane's first album for the then-young label Impulse! Records. The work marked a turning point in the saxophonist's career and, according to the "AllMusic Guide to Jazz," is considered "a key work for understanding the path John Coltrane took with his music in his final creative phase."

For the album, recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio and produced by Creed Taylor, Coltrane expanded his quartet to a large ensemble of up to sixteen musicians. Coltrane's passionate, free improvisations on the tenor and soprano saxophones stand in striking contrast to the compact, highly rhythmic sound of the brass-heavy orchestra conducted by Cal Massey. The arrangements and orchestrations for the big band were created by Eric Dolphy and McCoy Tyner during the rehearsals and recording sessions in the studio.

Verve Acoustic Sounds series: completely analog, mastered from the original tapes by Ryan K. Smith at Sterling Sound, QPR pressing (180 g), sturdy tip-on gatefold (Stoughton Printing), padded inner sleeve