Created in 1954 by jazz pianist and entrepreneur George Wein and originally based in Newport, Rhode Island, the Newport Jazz Festival became one of the most celebrated and emblematic jazz festivals in the world. In 1960, boisterous spectators created a major disturbance, and the National Guard was called to the scene. Presentation of the proper Newport Jazz Festival was disallowed in 1961 due to the complications from the previous year's festival. In its place, another festival billed as "Music at Newport" was produced that year, without George Wein’s participation. That festival included a number of jazz musicians but was financially unsuccessful. The Newport Jazz Festival resumed with Wein at Freebody Park in 1962. Coltrane’s Newport debut as a leader (the set presented here for the first time ever) took place on July 1, 1961 during that odd festival after the 1960 incidents in which George Wein didn’t participate. Coltrane was one of the jazz stars who performed at the 1961 Newport festival. He played three tunes of his own (“Impressions”, “Naima” and “My Favorite Things”) which he had recently recorded for Atlantic and would remain in his repertoire for the rest of his career. Appearing with him was his regular group, including McCoy Tyner on piano, Reggie Workman and Art Davis on bass, and Elvin Jones on drums. This wasn’t the first time Trane played with two bassists at the same time. Both Workman and Davis had already participated together on the saxophonist’s albums Olé and Africa Brass, which were both recorded in 1961 a few months before the Newport performance.