“Giant Steps” | Stories of Standards

“Giant Steps” – composed by John Coltrane (1926 – 1967) – was initially recorded in 1959 as the title song of his 1960 album.

The song’s rapid flow and progression of intricate weaving of chords captivated audiences and fellow musicians alike. With its use of three keys shifted by major thirds for an augmented triad, “Giant Steps” quickly became a goal for musicians to master.

Tune in to First Take with Lando and Chavis – weekdays from 6-9 am MT – for Stories of Standards to hear our favorite versions of this song all week long!

Notable recordings include those by Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman, Toots Thielemans and Pat Metheny.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwAT5SniT5g

Coltrane grew up in North Carolina, where he learned to play E-flat alto horn, clarinet, and alto saxophone.

After moving to Philadelphia, Coltrane studied music before joining the Navy in 1945, where he played alto saxophone before going on to switch between alto and tenor saxophone.

By the early 1950s, Coltrane was playing tenor sax full-time, but drugs and alcohol plagued his time with the Miles Davis Quintet. He overcame both shortly after leaving that band.

Coltrane went on to play with Thelonious Monk’s quartet in 1957. He then played with Cannonball Adderley, Bill Evans, and others.

Coltrane discovered the soprano saxophone and purchased one in 1960, about the time he formed his own group.

Coltrane’s reputation and honors have steadily grown since he died of liver disease at the untimely age of 40.

His albums “A Love Supreme” and “My Favorite Things” were certified gold in 2001. And The United States Postal Service issued a commemorative John Coltrane postage stamp in 1995.

The Pulitzer Prize Board awarded Coltrane a posthumous special citation for his lifetime of innovative and influential work, saying “His work has weight, an artistic quest and searching nature.

Coltrane infused the existing tradition with innovation and radical approaches. The surface of his music is dynamic and palpable, the underlying structure is suffused with spirituality and provocative political content.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpsfvLphoqM

Sources: jazzstandards.com; johncoltrane.com; allmusic.com; playlistresearch.com; pbs.org; coltranechurch.org; “The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz”