Giant Steps (4:46)
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“‘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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The John Coltrane Anthology (disc 2)
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Anthology 1959-1967
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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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Kawww wrote:
A jazz standard for a good reason.
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kilam4 wrote:
A true genius.
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mscotttx wrote:
The chord progression is amazing. Take note.
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pavlee wrote:
this is 50 year old freshness
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musiklubber wrote:
love it
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foxhopping wrote:
free jazz lol.... what the hell guys.
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dashashton wrote:
Indeed the most feared tune at any jam session.Try it like Bird practiced, playing all 3 keys used in the tune(Eb, B, G) and modulating the entire tune in all 12 keys. Stepped uptempo. With feeling. Yikes!
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axss wrote:
out of this world. the more i listen to it, the more i start to admire it. but.. who the hell tags it free jaz?! ...
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Pelijah wrote:
Piano solo by Tommy Flanagan--a great piano player who just was not ready for this session.
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mountainman78 wrote:
ferocious
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ThaKyd1 wrote:
John Coltrane is one of the greatest
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john_v_peterson wrote:
Incredible - but what can you say about a guy who would practice 8 hours a day, and then go out and play his heart out at a gig that night! The ultimate - influenced outside of his genre of music - length of soloing, length of songs, virtuosity....he be 'de man!
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AADDFFGGVVXX wrote:
"Ok guys...Tristan und Isolde in Bb...one two uh uh..."
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barwalker64 wrote:
Byron is damned right- true school !!!
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audiominer wrote:
50 Years later it's STILL KILLER!!!
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username0003 wrote:
Not old school, not new school, True School!!
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fabiStone wrote:
this is my breakfast ,
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PhamilyJules wrote:
Chord......changes........too....fast....can't...keep...up!
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Tenjin1971 wrote:
A sax GOD.
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guitarguru01 wrote:
I would die a happy man if I could jam (respectively) over this song.
John Coltrane
Giant Steps
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