Influences And Recollections of a Musical Mind

Written By Braddon S. Williams

John Coltrane: Giant Steps

One of the most influential and gifted sax players in history, John Coltrane, released Giant Steps (1960) not long after completing recording Kind Of Blue with Miles Davis.

Coltrane’s playing on these landmark jazz records was revolutionary at the time and legendary for all time. His tone was a thing of beauty and his choices of chord patterns to solo over were soon known as Coltrane changes.

Even his melodic phrasing earned the colorful title of “sheets of sound.”

When I’m in the mood for pure jazz, the two artists I invariably go to are Miles and Coltrane, the twin towers of excellence.