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About This Track
“‘Giant Steps’” is a jazz recording by John Coltrane, on tenor saxophone, which is the first track on the album of the same name and is 4 minutes and 49 seconds long. The composition is a milestone for jazz musicians’ progress, given the difficulty of improvising its rapid progression of chord changes that progress through three keys shifted by major thirds.
The saxophonist had previously used this technique on the LP Blue Train on the tunes Moment’s Notice and Lazy Bird. Coltrane continued in this vein on a recording with Cannonball Adderley of the standard “Limehouse Blues,” and on his original “Fifth House.” He continued to use this approach on other tunes, such as “Countdown”, based on the Miles Davis tune “Tune Up”; “26 2” based on Charlie Parker’s “Confirmation”; and a reharmonization of the jazz standard “Body and Soul.” Songs such as “Naima” and “Like Sonny” also show some harmonic similarity to “Giant Steps.” Coltrane continued to employ similar concepts in his soloing during his more open and modal middle period. A Love Supreme features examples of lines based on “Giant Steps” cycles over modal vamps, to create a Polytonal effect.
The progression continues to stimulate harmonic thinking in contemporary jazz. There are a number of different approaches to soloing on the song. While Coltrane favoured arpeggiation over the changes, other players have used different tricks and patterns to bring out the sound of the changes.
The saxophonist had previously used this technique on the LP Blue Train on the tunes Moment’s Notice and Lazy Bird. Coltrane continued in this vein on a recording with Cannonball Adderley of the standard “Limehouse Blues,” and on his original “Fifth House.” He continued to use this approach on other tunes, such as “Countdown”, based on the Miles Davis tune “Tune Up”; “26 2” based on Charlie Parker’s “Confirmation”; and a reharmonization of the jazz standard “Body and Soul.” Songs such as “Naima” and “Like Sonny” also show some harmonic similarity to “Giant Steps.” Coltrane continued to employ similar concepts in his soloing during his more open and modal middle period. A Love Supreme features examples of lines based on “Giant Steps” cycles over modal vamps, to create a Polytonal effect.
The progression continues to stimulate harmonic thinking in contemporary jazz. There are a number of different approaches to soloing on the song. While Coltrane favoured arpeggiation over the changes, other players have used different tricks and patterns to bring out the sound of the changes.
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Albums featuring this track
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Giant Steps
John Coltrane
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The Best of John Coltrane (disc 1)
John Coltrane Buy- Download Album
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Shouts
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lastfmgs wrote:
where is the live version lastfm plays from?
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cinnamondearie wrote:
!!!
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ghjamout wrote:
snap snap snap snap ya dig it
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Im2Jazzy4U wrote:
mr john coltrane
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I_Chocobo wrote:
A milli a milli a milli a milli a milli a milli a milli a milli
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pablo323 wrote:
I love lastFM, but all the mixing up of versions of tunes is realy anoying [2] Need some changes
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bartotalex wrote:
Another giant step ! Thx John !
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chonlionshen wrote:
and my ear is tired to dead so.cooooooooooooool..........
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chonlionshen wrote:
i think John Coltrane must be tired to dead while he finish this song.
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Davadarho wrote:
Fucking amazing. Please, don't stop the TRANE !
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christianS_79 wrote:
I love lastFM, but all the mixing up of versions of tunes is realy anoying
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D-Bone_Franklin wrote:
Yes, Definitely not Coltrane...
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bamafan2112 wrote:
Anyone else getting some guitar/organ/piano thing that is clearly not Coltrane's "Giant Steps".....?
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blakbyrd76 wrote:
still amazing to hear!!!!!
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rbynum12 wrote:
Amazing! Simplicity at it's best.
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micropink wrote:
sounds difficult.
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Takyon7667 wrote:
Perfection
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Noisyturtle wrote:
unholy damn, this is like heroine for my ears. intense and golden sound.
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TeeJayAllDay wrote:
The first time I heard this my jaw dropped and I yelled out "GOT DAMN!!!!!!!!"
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Jayryn wrote:
vibe!
Track Stats
468,341 Scrobbles
145,475 Listeners
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Recent Activity
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ediblepooh loved John Coltrane – Giant Steps. 2 hours ago
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Patrickwm95 added Giant Steps to his Loved Tracks. yesterday evening
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btraven17 tagged John Coltrane – Giant Steps with bebop and jazz. Saturday evening
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emicom wrote about Giant Steps in Fuji Rock 2011 @ Naeba Ski Resort, July 30 2011. Thursday morning
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