Africa/Brass is the first album by John Coltrane released by Impulse! Records in 1961. It was recorded in two sessions in May and June of that year, and marks a turning point in Coltrane's career by incorporating a larger brass and woodwind section, with arrangements by Eric Dolphy. The album reflects the growing influence of African music and modal explorations in Coltrane's work.
The centerpiece of the album is "Africa", a Coltrane composition that extends over 16 minutes, with a hypnotic rhythm and collective solos that anticipate his free jazz period. Other songs include "Greensleeves", an adaptation of the English traditional, and "Blues Minor", a modal blues. The participation of musicians such as McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Reggie Workman is fundamental to the album's sound.
Africa/Brass received mixed reviews upon its release, but over time it has been revalued as a pioneering work that expanded the boundaries of jazz. The combination of large orchestral formations with Coltrane's spiritual intensity created a unique sound that influenced later generations of jazz and world music musicians.