John Coltrane
John Coltrane was always surrounded by music. His dad, John R. Coltrane played several instruments which is why John started playing the E-flat horn and clarinet. The year his father and grandfather died he played E-flat horn and clarinet in a community band. In high school because of his music interests, Lester Young and Johnny Hodges, he started playing the alto saxophone.
After graduating from high school he attended the Ornstein School of Music and studied at Granoff Studios. He played at clubs until he was drafted into the navy. While in the navy he continued playing music by joining the U.S Navy Band. He also played in a quartet where he made his first recording on July 1st, 1946.
After being discharged in 1946 he started playing tenor saxophone and played in a variety of bands. While playing with the band Gillespie he preformed his first solo piece titled 'We Love to Boogie', on March 1st, 1951. Because of his drug addiction it was hard for him to find work until Miles Davis, a former drug addict, hired him. This was Johns' big break. In April 1956 the 'New Miles Davis Quintet' was released, John also did two marathon sessions with Prestige that were released under the names 'Cookin', 'Relaxin' and 'Steamin'. Davis fired him in October 1956 because of his addiction, but by the end of November had taken him back.
In 1957 John became a solo artist for Prestige while also remaining a member of Davis's band, and being a side man for other bands. In April of 1957 John was fired once again by Davis for his addiction, which pushed him to become clean. On the 31st of May he recorded a debut as a band leader. In 1958 Davis hired back, and he played modern jazz. In 1960 he left Davis and started his own quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones called the John Coltrane Quartet. They composed the most beautiful and expressive jazz music of all time, their greatest album being 'A Love Supreme' which is about the love, splendor and greatness of God. John also started playing soprano saxophone. During this time he focused mainly on 'mode based improvisation in which solos were played', and studied the music of Africa and India.
His career was short lasting only 12 years, and would've continued if he hadn't of passed away.
His legacy lives on, even though he does not.
After graduating from high school he attended the Ornstein School of Music and studied at Granoff Studios. He played at clubs until he was drafted into the navy. While in the navy he continued playing music by joining the U.S Navy Band. He also played in a quartet where he made his first recording on July 1st, 1946.
After being discharged in 1946 he started playing tenor saxophone and played in a variety of bands. While playing with the band Gillespie he preformed his first solo piece titled 'We Love to Boogie', on March 1st, 1951. Because of his drug addiction it was hard for him to find work until Miles Davis, a former drug addict, hired him. This was Johns' big break. In April 1956 the 'New Miles Davis Quintet' was released, John also did two marathon sessions with Prestige that were released under the names 'Cookin', 'Relaxin' and 'Steamin'. Davis fired him in October 1956 because of his addiction, but by the end of November had taken him back.
In 1957 John became a solo artist for Prestige while also remaining a member of Davis's band, and being a side man for other bands. In April of 1957 John was fired once again by Davis for his addiction, which pushed him to become clean. On the 31st of May he recorded a debut as a band leader. In 1958 Davis hired back, and he played modern jazz. In 1960 he left Davis and started his own quartet with McCoy Tyner, Jimmy Garrison, and Elvin Jones called the John Coltrane Quartet. They composed the most beautiful and expressive jazz music of all time, their greatest album being 'A Love Supreme' which is about the love, splendor and greatness of God. John also started playing soprano saxophone. During this time he focused mainly on 'mode based improvisation in which solos were played', and studied the music of Africa and India.
His career was short lasting only 12 years, and would've continued if he hadn't of passed away.
His legacy lives on, even though he does not.