John Coltrane » Tracks » Giant Steps

John Coltrane – Giant Steps (9:31)

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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.
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  • NensT

    DAT BASS

    15 days ago

  • Im2Jazzy4U

    coltane super-hot and out-front...all company keeping up...outstanding...all on top form...keep this version...please...!

    last month

  • granpubah

    looks like I got the real thing!!! Sheer excellence.

    March 2012

  • lastfmgs

    where is the live version lastfm plays from?

    January 2012

  • cinnamondearie

    !!!

    December 2011

  • ghjamout

    snap snap snap snap ya dig it

    December 2011

  • Im2Jazzy4U

    mr john coltrane

    November 2011

  • I_Chocobo

    A milli a milli a milli a milli a milli a milli a milli a milli

    November 2011

  • pablo323

    I love lastFM, but all the mixing up of versions of tunes is realy anoying [2] Need some changes

    October 2011

  • bartotalex

    Another giant step ! Thx John !

    October 2011

  • chonlionshen

    and my ear is tired to dead so.cooooooooooooool..........

    October 2011

  • chonlionshen

    i think John Coltrane must be tired to dead while he finish this song.

    October 2011

  • Davadarho

    Fucking amazing. Please, don't stop the TRANE !

    September 2011

  • christianS_79

    I love lastFM, but all the mixing up of versions of tunes is realy anoying

    September 2011

  • D-Bone_Franklin

    Yes, Definitely not Coltrane...

    August 2011

  • bamafan2112

    Anyone else getting some guitar/organ/piano thing that is clearly not Coltrane's "Giant Steps".....?

    July 2011

  • blakbyrd76

    still amazing to hear!!!!!

    June 2011

  • rbynum12

    Amazing! Simplicity at it's best.

    June 2011

  • micropink

    sounds difficult.

    June 2011

  • Takyon7667

    Perfection

    May 2011
See all 164 shouts

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