#232 John Coltrane, 'Giant Steps' (1960)

Previously #103

Finally, another Jazz record! They’ve been few and far between so far. ‘Giant Steps’ is one of the most influential Jazz records of all time. Recorded just two weeks after the final recording session for Miles Davis’s ‘Kind Of Blue,’ on which Coltrane featured, this album is dripping in Coltrane’s signature “Sheets Of Sound.” The improvised chord progressions on this album were so perfect that saxophonists to this day use these songs as practice pieces.

Take ‘Countdown’ for example. The changes on this song are so insanely quick, yet accurate. He made it seem so easy. I could single out more songs, but to be honest, I’ll just be naming the tracklist. Supporting Coltrane is Tommy Flanagan on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Art Taylor on drums and without them, this album wouldn’t be a quarter as good. Giving only as much as each song needs (although, Flanagan does often give more than asked for), they provide a steady foundation through which Coltrane’s sax weaves. Oh, and a quick shout out to Chambers’s bass solo on ‘Syeeda’s Song Flute.’ So excellent!

#rs500albums