Contents
John Coltrane
Expanding jazz saxophone through Giant Steps and A Love Supreme.
Tenor and soprano saxophone · Spiritual jazz
- Born
- 23 September 1926
- Birthplace
- Hamlet, North Carolina, United States
- Died
- 17 July 1967
More people
John Coltrane
John Coltrane was an American saxophonist and composer whose work moved from intricate harmonic structures toward increasingly open improvisation. His concentrated sound and sustained searching made him a major influence on modern jazz.
Early life
North Carolina childhood
Grew up in High Point and began playing instruments while at school.
Philadelphia training
Moved to the city after high school and studied music before and after Navy service.
Career
- 1940s–early 1950s
Band experience
Played in rhythm-and-blues and jazz groups while developing his technique.
- 1955–1959
Major collaborators
Worked with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk.
- 1960
Own quartet
Established a group that evolved into his celebrated quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison and Elvin Jones.
- 1965–1967
Later experiments
Expanded ensembles and explored freer forms of improvisation.
Selected work
Giant Steps
The title composition moves through a demanding sequence of harmonies.
My Favorite Things
Reworked a familiar show tune around soprano saxophone and extended improvisation.
A Love Supreme
A four-part suite recorded in December 1964.
Beyond work
Spiritual commitments
Connected his musical purpose with a broad spiritual search.
Alice Coltrane
His wife was a pianist and composer who joined his later ensemble and developed her own substantial work.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Gelderen, Hugo van / Anefo. CC0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
