An exceedingly rare original concert poster from John Coltrane’s legendary July 1966 Japanese Tour.

Music writer Katherine Whatley noted Due in part to the fact that Coltrane died within a year after his trip, his Japan tour has reached near-mythic status for researchers and fans, both within Japan and around the world.

This stunning poster advertises four dates on the Coltrane Quintet’s tour: July 12, 1966 at the Festival Hall, Osaka, July 13, at Kokaido, Hiroshima, July 16 at Kyoto Kaikan, Daini Hall, Kyoto, and July 17 at Kobe Kokusai Kaikan, Kobe.

Above Coltrane’s name, the poster reads in Japanese “Black New Leader in the Modern Jazz Scene”.  Below Coltrane’s photograph is his name written in Japanese (in red) and the word Quintet (in white) with the names of  band members (in red) Jimmy Garrison (bass), Alice Coltrane (piano), Farrell (Pharoah) Sanders (tenor and alto sax, bass clarinet, percussion) and Rashid Ali (drums) are all listed in Japanese.

The poster measures 28 3/4” x 20” and is in excellent condition after  restoration, having been conservation linen backed, with two small torn corners replaced, and touching up along old fold lines and scratches.  Upon very close inspection the restoration is visible, but the poster looks extremely impressive in person and will frame beautifully.

The only example we’ve seen of this extraordinarily rare and impressive poster (and one of the very few 1960’s Japanese concert posters we know of).