John Coltrane

John William Coltrane (September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer.

Coltrane's Quartet

Coltrane formed a quartet in 1960. After moving through different personnel including Steve Kuhn, Pete Laroca and Billy Higgins, the lineup stabilized in the fall with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Steve Davis and drummer Elvin Jones. By early 1961 Davis had been replaced by Reggie Workman. Eric Dolphy joined the group as a second horn around the same time. The quintet recorded a famous concert in November 1961 at Village Vanguard which was evidence of a new musical direction being pursued. It was some of the most experimental music he'd played up to this point. The music was influenced by Indian ragas, the recent developments in modal jazz, and the burgeoning free jazz movement.

Related Topics:
1960 - Steve Kuhn - Pete Laroca - Billy Higgins - McCoy Tyner - Steve Davis - Elvin Jones - Reggie Workman - Eric Dolphy - Village Vanguard - Ragas - Modal jazz - Free jazz

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During this period, many critics saw Coltrane as an interesting and virtuosic but somewhat sterile player. Audiences in France famously booed during his final tour with Davis. Down Beat magazine indicted Coltrane, along with Eric Dolphy, as players of "Anti-Jazz" in 1961, in an article that bewildered and upset the musicians. Coltrane admitted some of his early solos were based mostly on technical ideas. Furthermore, Dolphy's angular and jagged playing earned him a reputation as a figurehead of the "New Thing" movement led by Ornette Coleman, which was also denigrated by some jazz musicians. But as Coltrane's style further developed, he was determined to make each performance "a whole expression of one's being," as he would call his music in a 1966 interview.

Related Topics:
Down Beat - Eric Dolphy - 1961 - 1966

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In 1962 Jimmy Garrison replaced Workman. Dolphy departed in early 1962. The "Classic Quartet" with Tyner, Garrison and Jones produced searching, spiritually driven work. Coltrane quickly developed a rugged, sometimes aggressive freewheeling tenor style which had all the density of a track like "Giant Steps" but none of its formal structures. This group would famously produce A Love Supreme in 1964.

Related Topics:
Jimmy Garrison - Giant Steps - A Love Supreme

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After completing his contract with Atlantic Records in May 1961 with the album Ole, Coltrane joined the fledgling Impulse! label.

Related Topics:
Ole - Impulse!

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The criticism of the quintet with Dolphy may have had an impact on Coltrane. In contrast to the radicalism of Coltrane's 1961 recordings at the Village Vanguard, Coltrane's studio recordings in 1962 and 1963 were much more conservative and accessible. He recorded an album of ballads and participated in collaborations with Duke Ellington and Johnny Hartman. Despite a more polished approach in the studio, in concert the quartet continued its exploratory and challenging approach. The album "Ballads" is a fine example of Coltrane's versatility and his ability to tackle different forms of jazz whilst still being able to shed new light on old-fashioned standards such as "It's Easy to Remember."

Related Topics:
Village Vanguard - Duke Ellington - Johnny Hartman

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