John Coltrane (1926 – 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in jazz history. Known for his innovative improvisation and spiritual approach to music, he played a crucial role in the development of modal jazz and free jazz.
Born in North Carolina, Coltrane moved to Philadelphia in 1943, where he studied music and began performing professionally. He played with jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk before joining Miles Davis’s quintet in the mid-1950s. His time with Davis was pivotal, leading to his groundbreaking album Giant Steps (1960), which introduced complex harmonic structures known as "Coltrane changes".
In the 1960s, he formed the John Coltrane Quartet, featuring McCoy Tyner, Elvin Jones, and Jimmy Garrison. This group produced A Love Supreme (1965), a deeply spiritual album that remains one of jazz’s most celebrated works. His later years saw him explore avant-garde jazz, collaborating with Pharoah Sanders and pushing the boundaries of improvisation.
Coltrane passed away from liver cancer in 1967 at 40. His music continues to inspire, and he was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize. His legacy endures as a visionary artist whose work transcended jazz and reached spiritual and philosophical realms.