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John Coltrane

His mother, Alice Blair Coltrane, moved to New Jersey to work as a domestic while John completed high school. John played first the clarinet, then alto saxophone in his high school band. His first musical influence was the tenor saxophonist Lester Young of Count Basie's band. In June of 1943, after graduation, Coltrane moved to Philadelphia to be closer to his mother.

After a yearlong stint in the Navy (1945-46), Coltrane began playing gigs in and around Philadelphia. During this time he became involved in drug and alcohol use, vices that would follow him throughout his career and ultimately lead to his death.

In late 1949 Coltrane was invited to play alto sax with Dizzy Gillespie's band; the first recording session was on November 21 of that year. When the big band broke up in May of 1950 Coltrane moved to the tenor saxophone and played with Gillespie's small band until May of the next year. Coltrane played with Earl Bostic's group in 1952, switching to the band of his early idol Johnny Hodges in 1953.

Problems with drug and alcohol abuse, however, forced Coltrane out of the group in 1954. Miles Davis called upon Coltrane in the summer of 1955 to join a group he was forming. The Miles Davis quintet's first recording was made in October of 1955, the same month in which Coltrane was married to Naima Grubbs. The quintet was comprised of Davis on trumpet, Coltrane on tenor sax, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on the drums. It was in his years with this quintet that Coltrane's abilities were truly recognized and appreciated.

In April 1957, though, Coltrane was again forced to take a break from playing to deal with his substance abuse problems; Davis replaced him with Sonny Rollins. He played briefly with Thelonious Monk in late 1957 before rejoining the Miles Davis quintet in January 1958. Coltrane played with this group until April 1960, when he set out to form his own group.

The John Coltrane quartet first formed in April of 1960 with Coltrane playing tenor saxophone, McCoy Tyler on piano, Elvin Jones on drums, and Jimmy Harrison on bass. It was during the first years of this group that Coltrane graduated from an above-average tenor saxophonist to an elite bandleader, composer, and improvisor. "My Favorite Things", the epic album featuring "Every Time We Say Goodbye", "Summertime", "But Not For Me", and the title track, was recorded in 1960. This was undoubtedly Coltrane's most successful and popular album, and granted him the commercial success that had eluded him thus far in his career.

Does Jazz History Weigh Too Heavily on Today’s Practitioners?

by Ian Patterson
April 24, 2024

It is no outlandish claim to say that jazz is obsessed with its past--just look at the number of tribute albums, songs and concerts inspired by the music's forbearers, or at the never-ending stream of historical reissues. For many jazz musicians, navigating jazz means honoring the music's “ancestors" and playing “in the tradition." Jazz education programs generally look to the past to instruct their students. Reviewers of albums by contemporary jazz musicians, almost without exception, make ...

Rethinking Jazz Cultures

Walter van de Leur: Jazz & Death, Part 1—A Closer Walk With Thee

by Ian Patterson
April 11, 2024

Part 1 | Part 2 What is jazz? Beacon of the oppressed; music of jny: New Orleans bordellos; popular dance music; revolutionary music; high-art music with an established cannon; progressive music that absorbs and grows; hermetic traditional music... Jazz has always meant different things to different people. Even the term 'jazz' is political and contentious. Black American Music, or borderless music of the world? The most democratic form of music, or a club that is stubbornly ...

Readers Poll Results

Your Favorite Legacy Jazz Saxophonists

by Michael Ricci
April 2, 2024

Member votes were tabulated and this list represents our favorite legacy jazz saxophonists. Fully transparent and easily verifiable, All About Jazz's legacy saxophonists poll was conducted during the 2023-2024 calendar year and ran up through March 28, 2024. We want to thank every member who participated in creating this impressive list (164 total!) for the next generation of jazz enthusiasts to discover. 1John Coltrane2Wayne Shorter3Charlie Parker4Cannonball Adderley5Stan Getz6Dexter Gordon7Paul Desmond8Lester Young9Joe Henderson10Sonny Stitt11Coleman Hawkins12Art Pepper13Ben Webster14Michael Brecker15Johnny Hodges16Ornette ...

Book Review

Coltrane, il frastornante riflesso dell’universo

by Libero Farnè
February 19, 2024

John Coltrane--Tranesonic o il riflesso dell'universo Aldo Gianolio e Piercarlo Poggio 129 pagine Tuttle Edizioni 2024 Bisogna ammettere che negli ultimi anni l'offerta editoriale italiana di argomento jazzistico è tutt'altro che avara di proposte. Merito del lavoro lodevolissimo e disinteressato di tante case editrici, per lo più piccole e amatoriali ma non solo, che con grande motivazione propongono libri sui personaggi e sui temi più disparati: da Gato Barbieri a Abbey Lincoln, da Paul ...

Album Review

Thelonious Monk: With John Coltrane 1957 Revisited

Read "With John Coltrane 1957 Revisited" reviewed by Chris May

by Chris May
December 26, 2023

Once again, the ezz-thetics label has taken some of the finest artefacts of mid-twentieth-century US jazz and sonically restored them, bringing an unprecedented level of clarity, precision and presence. It is no exaggeration to say that the Swiss-based label's work can be compared with the restoration of Michelangelo's frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel during the 1980s, both in terms of the quality of the original material and the artistry with which the renovation has been executed. The ...

Album Review

Miles Davis: 2nd Session 1956 Revisited

Read "2nd Session 1956 Revisited" reviewed by Glenn Astarita

by Glenn Astarita
December 25, 2023

The Miles Davis Quintet's 2nd Session 1956 Revisited revitalizes the iconic recordings from a pivotal year in jazz history. These original sessions, featuring Davis alongside luminaries like John Coltrane, Red Garland, Paul Chambers, and Philly Joe Jones, stand as timeless classics that have indelibly shaped the course of jazz.This revisited edition captures the very essence and vitality of those legendary sessions while infusing them with a fresh perspective. The music's hallmark traits--the melodic sophistication and improvisational brilliance--are expertly ...

Jazz Fiction

Holiday Notes Across A Hallway

by Arthur R George
December 20, 2023

A knock on the door of Augie Cannataro's apartment. He peered through the security window to see the single mother from across the hall. They had always nodded politely at each other when passing in the lobby or hallway. He was respectful but didn't want to approach an involvement in whatever her life was with her son, who Cannataro had also seen in passing and had heard through the walls of their apartments making painful attempts at saxophone practice.

Event

Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, Led By Dr. Kahil El’zabar, Caps 50th Anniversary World Tour With Rare Live Performance Of John Coltrane’s Masterpiece 'A Love Supreme' Presented By Jacaranda

Source: Patrick Scott
February 8, 2024

Saxophonist David Murray Is the Featured Soloist on Original Arrangement of the Work by Miguel de la Cerna and El’Zabar Sunday, February 25, 2024, 4 pm, First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica Ethnic Heritage Ensemble, led by founder Kahil El’Zabar, caps its 50th Anniversary world tour with a rare live performance of John Coltrane’s masterwork, A Love Supreme, arranged by Miguel de la Cerna and El’Zabar, on Sunday, February 25, 2024, 4 pm, at First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica, ...
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Performance / Tour

World-renowned Smoke Jazz Club Ends The Year With The 11th Annual Coltrane Festival Countdown 2024, New Year’s Eve Celebration With Carla Cook, And More

Source: AMT Public Relations
November 7, 2023

Rated the #1 Jazz Club in New York City (Secret NYC), SMOKE Jazz Club ends 2023 with an exciting line-up in December. The month begins with a rare solo piano doubleheader by Brad Mehldau (Dec 1-2) preceded by his Trio (Nov 29-30). For 11 nights, SMOKE presents its 11th annual Coltrane Festival: “Countdown 2024.” Some of today’s top musicians join forces to celebrate the life and musical legacy of the great saxophonist and composer John Coltrane. Tenor giant George Coleman ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John Coltrane

Source: Michael Ricci
September 23, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating John Coltrane's birthday today!

John William Coltrane was born on September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. At the age of three his family moved to High Point, NC, where young Coltrane spent his early years. His father, John Robert Coltrane, died in 1939, leaving twelve year-old John and his mother on their own. His mother, Alice Blair Coltrane, moved to New Jersey to work as a domestic while John completed high school. John played ...
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Recording

Evenings At The Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy - Never-Before-Heard Recording Of Two Of The Most Iconic Forces In Jazz - Set To Debut July 14

Source: Michael Ricci
June 3, 2023

In the summer of 1961, John Coltrane headlined at the celebrated music venue, the Village Gate. With a lineup of musicians that included McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman, Elvin Jones, and the fiery playing of Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate captures the creative and transformative spirit that sprang from the pairing of Coltrane and Dolphy, and the evolving short-lived quintet. Evenings At The Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy will be released globally July 14 on Impulse! Records/UMe. ...
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Video / DVD

John Coltrane: Like Sonny

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
January 19, 2023

John Coltrane first recorded his composition Like Sonny during his initial recording session for Giant Steps, his debut LP for Atlantic, on March 26, 1959. The personnel on the first attempt: John Coltrane (ts), Cedar Walton (p), Paul Chambers (b) and Lex Humphries (d). But the song wasn't used on Giant Steps, which came out in February 1960. [Photo above of John Coltrane by Francis Wolff (c)Mosaic Images] Instead, Like Sonny was recorded again on December 2, 1959 with John ...
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Performance / Tour

World-Renowned Smoke Jazz Club Ends The Year With The Annual Coltrane Festival 'Countdown 2023,' And More

Source: AMT Public Relations
November 5, 2022

Holiday Shows: Allan Harris (Dec 7-8) Orrin Evans All-Star Quintet (Dec 9-11) Goldings/Bernstein/Stewart Trio (Dec 15-18) Coltrane Festival: George Coleman, Eric Alexander, Melissa Aldana, Eric Reed, Vincent Herring, Billy Harper, Billy Hart, and More (Dec 20-Jan 8) and more... One of New York City's premier live music venues, Smoke Jazz Club, presents a stellar line-up of some of music's greatest artists during the month of December. For 16 nights, SMOKE presents its 10th Annual Coltrane Festival, “Countdown 2023," ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John Coltrane

Source: Michael Ricci
September 23, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating John Coltrane's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John Coltrane

Source: Michael Ricci
September 23, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating John Coltrane's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John Coltrane

Source: Michael Ricci
September 23, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating John Coltrane's birthday today!

Recording

A John Coltrane Birthday Salute by Saxophonist Teodross Avery

Source: Tompkins Square
September 23, 2019

In honor of John Coltrane's birthday, Teodross Avery shares an alternate take of Coltrane's “Africa". Another version appears on After the Rain: A Night for Coltrane, released on Tompkins Square in May (2019). The title track (listen here) is the #1 “Top Listened" track of 2019 on All About Jazz. The CD and LP both sold out quickly at source, but can still be found on Amazon and other stores online. Praise for After the Rain: A Night for Coltrane ...
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Recent Releases

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson