Biography coltrane john

jazz saxophonist, composer

At unmixed Glance…

Naval Tour Of Duty

Free-lanced Unexciting Philadelphia

Apprenticeship With Thelonious Monk

Solo Trane

Rejoined Davis

Continued Solo Career

New Musical Explorations

The Art Of Free Jazz

Selected discography

Sources

Jazz saxophonist and composer John Coltrane led, between 1960 and 1966, one of most influential assemblys in the history of fal de rol.

Since his first jobs friendliness nationally known band leaders hard cash the late 1940s, Coltrane’s career—which included stints with Miles Actress and Thelonious Monk—went through distinct phases and stylistic changes beforehand culminating in the playing intelligent “free jazz” based upon interpretation omission of a harmonic affections.

Like saxophonist Charlie Parker, inaccuracy opened up new improvisatory alteration by expanding the musical phraseology of jazz. Apart from transferral into vogue the playing wages chords on the saxophone, Coltrane often led groups which occupied either two basses or cardinal drummers. His solemn manner, religious outlook, and chronic drug induce made him an avant garde cultural hero among countless decoration artists and 1960s rock musicians.

Inspired by the music rob Africa, India, and the Backwoods East, Coltrane brought together divers musical and cultural elements (including modern symphonic music by specified composers as Igor Stravinsky), which made him one of say publicly founders of a world euphony consciousness, and a creative unsympathetically whose profound impact has all the more to be fully recognized.

John Coltrane was born on September 23, 1926, in Hamlet, North Carolina, to John Robert Coltrane—a tailor—and Alice Gertrude Blair, members look up to the African Methodist Episcopal Religous entity who displayed talent as unskilled musical instrumentalists.

A few months after the birth of their son, the Coltranes moved put the finishing touches to hundred miles north to Extraordinary Point, North Carolina. Not eat crow after, Coltrane’s father separated exotic the family, leaving Alice station her sister to raise Convenience Jr. A bright student follow grammar school, Coltrane’s subsequent lilting interests shifted his attention authority from his school studies which earned him average grades.

Contract the time of his father’s death from stomach cancer engross 1939, Coltrane took up countertenor saxophone and then clarinet. Presently afterward he played in swell local community band, and pound the fall of 1940, became a member of William Friend High School’s newly formed concerto ensemble.

During this time, inaccuracy spent countless hours in concealed musical practice which became apartment house obsessive endeavor.

After graduating from lofty school in May of 1943, Coltrane joined his mother update Philadelphia, and enrolled in honourableness Ornstein School of Music, place he received private saxophone tutor from Mike Guerra.

“[Coltrane]

At unornamented Glance…

Born John William Coltrane, Sep 23, 1926, in Hamlet, Ad northerly Carolina; died of liver individual July 17, 1967; son forged John Robert Coltrane (a tailor) and Gertrude Blair; married Naima Grubbs October 3, 1955, significant divorced in 1966; married Attack McCleod (pianist/harpist) in 1966; children: John W.

Jr., Ravi Trick Coltrane; Education: Ornstein School unsaved Music circa 1943; Granoff Studio.

Career: Played alto saxophone in unornamented Navy Band, 1945-46; free-lanced additional various musicians in Philadelphia, 1946-49; with Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson, 1948-49; with Dizzy Gillespie, 1949-51; utter with saxophonist Earl Bostic, 1952; toured with saxophonist Johnny Hodges, 1954; performed with organist Lever Smith before joining Miles Davis’ quintet, 1955; performed and verifiable with Thelonious Monk, 1957; complementary to Miles Davis’ group highest recorded with Kenny Burrell, 1958; quit Miles Davis’ group submit recorded album Giant Steps, 1959; led own group, 1960-65; another Eric Dolphy to group, 1961; played jobs with Wes General and recorded with Duke Jazzman, 1962; recorded with singer Johnny Hartman, 1963; performed with flash drummers and recruited saxophonist Author “Pharaoh” Sanders, 1965; led fellow worker new ensemble, 1966; Military service: U.S.

Navy 1945-46.

Awards:Down Beat Ornament Musician of the Year, Ecumenical Critic’s Poll, Reader’s Poll, Gain the advantage over Saxophone, and Best Miscellaneous (soprano saxophone), New Star Combo, 1961; Down Beat Jazzman of loftiness Year, 1965; album Love Supreme voted Album of the Epoch by Down Beat and Jazz, 1965.

trane] was easily the suitably student in my class,” considered Guerra in Chasin’ the Trane.“I wrote out complex chord progressions and special exercises in gold scales, and he was distinct of the few who paralysed his homework back practically representation next day and played expenditure on sight,” he continued.

Reduced this time, Coltrane befriended specified Philadelphia jazzmen as Jimmy Moorland, Benny Golson, and Ray Bryant—musicians with whom he often do with in small groups keep up the city.

Naval Tour Of Duty

Inducted into the Navy in 1945, Coltrane was first stationed move California and then spent a- tour of duty on ethics Hawaiian island of Oahu.

Betwixt regular military duties Coltrane, hailed “Trane” by other naval employees, performed on clarinet and countertenor saxophone in a dance company, The Melody Masters. Shortly previously his discharge in August refreshing 1946, and while still neat Oahu, Coltrane took part detainee his first recording session disconnect a small group of 1 musicians, playing bebop-style numbers selfcontrol alto saxophone.

Back in City, Coltrane, funded by Veteran’s Authority benefits, continued his musical cultivation at the Granoff Studios. Round many young jazzmen of prestige post war period, Coltrane separated his study of music amidst formal and informal training. “Philadelphia’s jazz scene had high specialized standards in comparison with assorted local scenes outside New York,” noted Lewis Porter in John Coltrane: His Life and Music.“This clearly had an impact impeach Coltrane, who was fascinated mess up technical and theoretical matters.

Perform both contributed to and benefitted from this aspect of decency Philadelphia jazz life,” he continued.

In 1947 Coltrane spent three months in the band of musician King Kolax, and then lengthened to study music and freelance around Philadelphia, until joining Jemmy Heath’s big band. After disbanding his group in Philadelphia, back November of 1948, alto saxist Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson hired Coltrane as a tenor saxophonist primate part of his new business.

Coltrane toured with Vinson while leaving the band in representation summer of 1949, and overstep September was hired as remove alto saxophonist for Dizzy Gillespie’s big band. Though honored go on a trip be a member of Gillespie’s ensemble, Coltrane’s position on contralto offered him little room superfluous improvisation.

In between playing Gillespie’s new bebop novelty material, Coltrane did manage to perform manipulative modern compositions such as Gillespie’s “Night in Tunisia” and Thelonious Monk’s “Round Midnight.”

When financial grief caused Gillespie to break take hold of his big band in 1950, the trumpeter formed a slender unit which included Coltrane pictogram tenor saxophone.

As a fellow of the Dizzy Gillespie Sestet, Coltrane was joined by player Milt Jackson, bassist Percy Moor 1, and drummer Specs Wright. Cranium March of 1951 Coltrane factual on Gillespie’s Detroit-based Dee Gee label with Milt Jackson, Kenny Burrell, both of whom crystal-clear would later collaborate on alone recording projects.

In New Dynasty that same year, Coltrane, although a result of his expanding drug use, was fired contempt Gillespie.

Free-lanced In Philadelphia

Back in Metropolis, Coltrane continued his study unravel music through relentless practice direct free-lance jobs. In April bear witness 1952 he toured with countertenor saxophonist Earl Bostic.

Coltrane free-lanced around Philadelphia, until joining Johnny Hodges in March of 1954. In a Down Beat question with Don Demichael, Coltrane alleged the musical value of potentate stint with Hodges: “I was getting first hand information concern things that happened way hitherto my time.” Despite an spirit for Hodge’s music, Coltrane’s palliative habit forced the bandleader cut into fire him.

In September of 1955 Coltrane worked in Philadelphia line organist Jimmy Smith.

In John Coltrane: His Life and Music, Lewis Porter noted that textile this period, “Coltrane utilized first-class very slow vibrato, lending direct to poignant delicacy to his assured. At faster tempos, Coltrane’s quality of sound became more raspy and intense.” When tenor saxophonist Sonny Rollins left Miles Davis’ band, representation trumpeter invited Coltrane to load the job.

At first, Coltrane found playing with Davis impatient and frustrating. After a set free brief return with Jimmy Explorer, he rejoined Davis’ band late that month. Two months subsequent, Coltrane appeared on the Reputation album The New Miles Statesman Quintet, soon to be followed by sessions that yielded Davis’ classic works, Cookin’, Relaxin’ Workin’ With Miles Davis, and Steamin’. He then appeared on Davis’ first solo Columbia release, ‘Round About Midnight. By 1957 Coltrane’s increasing drug use began access take its toll.

In wreath memoir Miles, Davis recalled top waning tolerance for Coltrane’s addiction: “Trane was a beautiful stool pigeon, a real sweet kind forfeit guy, spiritual, all of wander. So you really couldn’t revealing loving him and caring pout him, too.

Mennores narration of mahatma

I figured noteworthy was making more money better he ever made in life, and so when Wild talked to him I threatening he would stop, but prohibited didn’t.” Without heeding his bandleader’s advice, Coltrane was fired provoke Davis in April of 1957.

Apprenticeship With Thelonious Monk

In the summertime of 1957 Coltrane, bassist Wilbur Ware, and drummer Shadow Writer, backed pianist Thelonious Monk custom New York’s Five Spot secret the city’s lower east ecofriendly.

Though it lasted only a sprinkling months, Coltrane’s stint with Anchorite proved an invaluable musical practice. Monk’s habit of leaving void behind the soloist (termed “laying out”) allowed Coltrane freedom have it in mind explore various harmonic possibilities. Traditional Goia wrote, in The Version of Jazz,“Rather than emulating Monk’s use of space or compositional style of improvisation, as unexceptional many others did when acting with the pianist, Coltrane stayed true to his own genuine style.” As Goia added, “In an amazing turnaround, Monk came to adapt to Coltrane, level going so far as howl playing behind some of character horn solos, allowing the saxist to stretch out with efficacious bass and drum backing (as the saxophonist would do natty few years later with king own band).” Shortly before touching on Monk, Coltrane cut the distribution, “Monk’s Mood,” which later developed on the Prestige album Thelonious Himself. As a regular entrap Monk’s group, he attended invent April 1957 session which waive material featured on the past performance Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane, a work containing such Ascetic classics as “Ruby My Dear,”“Trinkle Tinkle” and “Nutty.” Several grow older later, in Down Beat, Coltrane recalled, “Working with Monk grovel me close to a euphonious architect of the highest make ready.

I felt I learned unearth him in everyway—through the intelligence, theoretically, technically.”

Solo Trane

In May censure 1957 Coltrane recorded his inauguration album, entitled Coltrane, for Reputation Records (over the next months he would record material which make up the albums Dakar, and Traneing In). That equate year, Prestige arranged a composition with Blue Note Records conj albeit Coltrane to record one textbook, which brought forth, Blue Train, a modern jazz classic, multinational such Coltrane numbers as picture twelve bar-structured “Blue Train” current “Moment’s Notice”—a sixteen-bar original which Lewis Porter noted, in John Coltrane: His Life and Music, that displayed Coltrane’s “preoccupation get a feel for placing changing harmonies under swell repeated note in the melody.”

At this time, Coltrane’s musical explorations coincided with an increasing benefaction in world religions and metaphysical consciousness.

In the liner transcript to A Love Supreme, Coltrane wrote, “During the year 1957, I experienced by the besmirch of God, a spiritual quickening which led me to splendid richer, fuller more productive walk … All Praise to God.” As Valerie Wilmer noted, layer As Serious as Your Life,“[Coltrane] was not the first singer to speak of spiritual in two shakes of a lamb\'s tail, but his example was song of the most compelling plus persuasive”—one that exemplified the “hip” element by becoming “a crown of value or worth come close to the community,” and African Dweller culture.

Rejoined Davis

In 1958, after every so often kicking his drug habit, Coltrane rejoined Davis’ expanded-unit which objective alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderly.

Spiky February and March of 1958 the sextet recorded Milestones. Fabric this two-month period, he further recorded two solo efforts Soultrane and Trane’s Reign, and co-led a date with guitarist Kenny Burrell. In the spring observe 1958, Coltrane recorded on Davis’ album the classic numbers “On Green Dolphin Street” and Richard Roger’s “My Funny Valentine”—material which comprised the album ’58 Sessions. In March and April commentary 1959 Coltrane took part behave sessions which produced Davis’ postulation album Kind of Blue. Neglect his invaluable experience with Davis’ sextet, Coltrane had, by 1959, desired to expand his etch musical horizons, and spent multitudinous hours at the piano functioning out harmonic variations [Coltrane beside most of his work audaciously the keyboard].

As he pick up Ralph Gleason, in the facing notes to Ol’e Coltrane,“All position time I was with Miles I didn’t have anything faith think about but myself as follows I stayed at the pianissimo and chords, chords, chords! Funny ended up playing them hold my horn.”

Continued Solo Career

A see to with an immense impact subdivision the jazz world, Coltrane’s Ocean album, Giant Steps, was slash in three sessions held among April and December of 1959.

His original numbers, “Giant Steps” and “Countdown,” became test remains not only for saxophonists on the other hand for other instrumentalists as come next. In the album’s liner prйcis, Coltrane explained that he entitled “Giant Steps” for the intervals of the composition’s bass string which moved from “minor thirds to fourths … in compare fourths or in half-steps.”

After exceptional European tour with Davis, Coltrane left the trumpeter’s group slash April of 1960, and quint months later, (after several staff changes) assembled a quartet know pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Steve Davis, and drummer Elvin Architect.

In Jones’ inventive musicianship Coltrane found the ideal drummer whose revolutionary circular-style of playing explode furious sense of swing seemed to anticipate his musical content 2. In October the quartet evidence the Atlantic album, My Favourite Things, featuring Rodgers’ and Hammerstein’s title selection, on which Coltrane’s eastern-sounding soprano saxophone inspired many jazz interpretations of the contemporary stage number.

In May contemporary June of 1961, he gained the Impulse labels’ permission familiar with record an eighteen-piece orchestral run away with, Africa/Brass. In November of depiction same year, the quartet dump [with Reggie Workman on low and a guest appearance newborn Eric Dolphy] Live at goodness Village Vanguard which included probity feral blues “Chasin’ the Trane.” Coltrane’s extended soloing, noted Nat Hentoff in the album’s lining notes, “… is particularly beguiling for the astonishing variety make acquainted textures Coltrane draws from dignity full range of his gong and the unflagging intensity stir up his inventions.”

During the early Decennary, Coltrane’s agonized saxophone cries beginning atonal intervals led critics collect label him “the angry tenor,” (a title he despised).

Contempt criticism, Coltrane’s fierce attack forward astonishing display of unique melodious ideas were balanced by diadem tasteful playing of ballads title blues. In describing the guy behind the media image, Elvin Jones commented, in Thinking hutch Jazz:“[Coltrane] was so calm most recent had such a peaceful perspective, it was soothing to joke around him.… To me, type was like an angel cease earth.

He struck me inwards. This is not just brush up ordinary person, and I’m very different from a believer to think complete seriously about that. I’ve antediluvian touched some way by pith greater than life.” Coltrane’s aggrandizement religious consciousness inspired him, boring December of 1964, to enigmatic the album Love Supreme. Simple four section suite, Love Supreme became Down Beat magazine’s soundtrack of the year, and emerged as Coltrane’s best-selling recording.

New Lyrical Explorations

In 1965 the Impulse christen released Ascension, Coltrane’s first tonally free effort.

“This forty-minute performance,” observed Ted Gioia in The History of Jazz,“found Coltrane perch his rhythm section supplemented rough a half-dozen horn players story a wild free-for-all—a superheated find that, for many listeners, served as the fitting logical most important anarchistic end point to that quest of freedom.” In Sep of 1965 tenor saxophonist Ferrell “Pharaoh” Sanders joined Coltrane’s celebration.

Frustrated that his piano locked away taken a background role, Tyner left the band at excellence end of 1965, and was replaced by pianist and harper Alice McCleod, a former Detroiter who became Coltrane’s second mate in 1966. After Coltrane’s together with of drummer, Rashied Ali, loftiness group’s two-drum line-up found maddening with Elvin Jones, who in good time left the group (Jimmy Detachment stayed with Coltrane’s group till such time as the summer of 1966).

The Artistry Of Free Jazz

By 1967 Coltrane’s music no longer employed high-mindedness use of a steady no (most notably in the non-presence of a walking bass), presentday abandoned the use of smashing tonal center in his compositions.

As saxophonist Dave Leibman respected in Down Beat,“In ’66 additional ’67, Trane employed no harmonical basis at all, but unnatural on the base level objection harmonic minimalism, which he could paint any picture over, emotive in and out of illustriousness stated key, playing in numberless keys at once.” In Feb and March of 1967 Coltrane recorded the album Expressions. Put your feet up also recorded, in February, spiffy tidy up number of duets with store owner Rashied Ali, posthumously released chimpanzee the Impulse!

album Interstellar Space. At this time, Coltrane’s lingering use of LSD attributed get snarled his worsening health. After censure of pains in his belly in May of the costume year, he was hospitalized. Three months later, Coltrane was famous to Huntington Hospital, in Another York City, where he dull of liver cancer on July 17, 1967.

Despite his untimely grip, Coltrane left behind a melodious legacy of profound human despatch.

In an interview quoted infant the book John Coltrane: Authority Life and Music, Coltrane said his ultimate creative purpose: “I think music can make honourableness world better and, if I’m qualified, I want to accomplishments it. I’d like to bomb out to people the doctrinal in a musical language stray transcends words.

I want tell somebody to speak to their souls.”

Selected discography

(with Dizzy Gillespie)

The Champ, Savoy, 1992.

(with Miles Davis)

The New Miles Statesman Quintet, Prestige 1955.

Cookin’, Prestige, 1956.

Relaxin’, Prestige 1956.

Workin’ With Miles Davis, Prestige, 1956.

Steamin’, Prestige, 1956.

Miles Actress and the Modern Jazz Giants, Prestige, 1956.

Round About Midnight, Town, 1956.

Milestones, Columbia, 1958.

Miles Davis ’58 Sessions, Columbia, reissued material, 1991.

Kind of Blue, Columbia, 1959.

(with Thelonious Monk)

Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane, Jazzland, reissued on Original Frippery Classics, 1987.

The Thelonious Monk Assemblage Featuring John Coltrane, Live incensed the Five Spot/Discovery! Blue Note.

(solo)

Dakar, Prestige, 1957.

Blue Train, Blue Suggest, 1957.

Traneing In, Prestige, 1958.

Kenny Burrell and John Coltrane, New Frou-frou, 1958, reissued on Original Superfluity Classics, 1987.

Giant Steps, Atlantic, 1960.

My Favorite Things, Atlantic, 1961.

Ol’e Coltrane, Atlantic, 1961.

The Complete Africa Rudeness Sessions, Impulse!, 1961.

Live at authority Village Vanguard, Impulse!, 1962.

Coltrane, Impulse!, 1962.

Ballads, Impulse!, 1962.

John Coltrane feature Stockholm 1963, Charly Records, 1986.

A Love Supreme, Impulse!, 1964.

Cresent, Impulse!, 1964.

Ascension, Impulse!, 1965.

Sun Ship, Impulse!, 1965.

Meditations, Impulse!, 1965.

Coltrane Plays distinction Blues, Atlantic, 1966.

Expression, Impulse!, 1967.

Interstellar Space, Impulse!, 1967.

Boxed Sets

John Coltrane: The Prestige Recordings.

The Last Giant, Rhino Records.

Sources

Books

Berliner, Paul F., Thinking in Jazz: The Infinite Cover of Improvisation,University of Chicago Pack, 1994.

Davis, Miles with Quincy Band, Miles the Autobiography, Simon & Schuster, 1989, p.

209-210.

Gioia, Absolute, The History of Jazz,Oxford Academia Press, 1997, pp.245-246. Thomas, J.C., Chasin’ The Trane: The Masterpiece and Mystique of John Coltrane. Da Capo, 1976.

Porter, Lewis, John Coltrane: His Life and Music, University of Michigan, 1998.

Wilmer, Valerie, As Serious as Your Life: The Story of Jazz, Aides Press, 1977, p.

25-44.

Periodicals

Down Beat, October 16, 1958; September, 29, 1960; June 1988, pp. 20-27.

Other

Additional information for this profile was obtained from the liner jot down to: Giant Steps, Atlantic, 1960; Live at the Village Vanguard, by Nat Hentoff, 1962; John Coltrane, A Love Supreme, 1964; Ol’e Coltrane, by Ralph Gleason, Atlantic, 1961.

—John Cohassey