John Coltrane; Giant Steps

**Vorago** · #1 10-15-2006, 02:00 PM

So, I was writing on a paper today, and I thought, what the heck, let's put on some of my brothers Jazz. So I pop in Giant Steps by John Coltrane, and whoooaaaah, I'm completely blown away!

I feel like I've finally made it across the Jazz barrier

Philbiker · #2 10-15-2006, 03:52 PM

that's a really good record.

Baryonyx · #3 10-15-2006, 04:15 PM

Oh yes, I'm always happy to see some love for Coltrane!

metalguy2 · #4 10-15-2006, 04:44 PM

Also try out some Blue Train

RichGlass · #5 10-15-2006, 04:48 PM

The tune 'Moment's Notice' is great also

Matt Till · #6 10-15-2006, 05:24 PM

Jazz fan or no, you have to love Coletrane! Best pure jazz album in my opinion. I'm by no means a purist, the jazz I like is mostly fusion (not that smoothed out crap), but man, just listening to him whip through those changes, jeez.

cosmicevan · #7 10-15-2006, 05:38 PM

not to be cliche, but "a love supreme" is where it's at! also, trane's take on my favorite things is a big favorite of mine as well...but nothing tops when resolutioin kicks in. gets me every time.

HaVIC5 · #8 10-15-2006, 11:30 PM

Yeah, A Love Supreme really is his best work. Giant Steps is probably his best stuff from his Hard Bop phase, though.

**Bryan R. Tyler** · #9 10-15-2006, 11:35 PM

It's easily my favorite 'Trane album, and one of my overall favorite albums as well.

The funny thing is that My Favorite Things, a much more subdued album, was recorded after Giant Steps where Coltrane had the other musicians take a lot of the soloing.

Philbiker · #10 10-16-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua

That's kind of like saying Hank Aaron hit a couple of homers in his time.

Well, he did.

DaveBeny · #11 10-16-2006, 03:38 PM

I've always enjoyed this animation that somebody made to accompany the track:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZRnkBK_0no

JimK · #12 10-16-2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

Jazz fan or no, you have to love Coletrane!

Who?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt-ster

Best pure jazz album in my opinion. I'm by no means a purist, the jazz I like is mostly fusion (not that smoothed out crap), but man, just listening to him whip through those changes, jeez.

Coltrane was a lighting rod amonst the Jazz 'purists' of that time....& still today, actually.
1-They hated his sound/tone.
2-The 'purists' may like Blue Trane...they loathe his later period work(Ascension, anyone?)
3-His solos were too long/self-indulgent & smacked of someone 'practicing on the bandstand'. Miles told 'Trane to edit his solos & Coltrane said 'I don't know how to stop'. Miles said, "Take the horn out of your mouth".

Not that I agree with any of them...I admit it took me 20 years before I really got into 'Trane; no doubt about it, he is by far my favourite musician.

Interesting thing about the tune "Giant Steps"...Tommy Flanagan, the pianist on the track, seems to be struggling with those changes...and who could blame him?

cosmicevan · #13 10-16-2006, 06:28 PM

in an interview, someone once asked trane why he played so many notes. he simply replied that he was looking for the right one.

when the interviewer said what are you going to do when you find the right note? trane replied "I'm gonna play it again"

...gotta love it!!!

Steve Clark · #14 10-16-2006, 06:42 PM

Ballads is a great record anytime after 2:00 am. Well, anytime really. Love Supreme still leaves me amazed at where that band went. Elvin Jones is astonishing on drums. Sometimes it sounds like there are a couple of drummers.

SuperDuck · #15 10-16-2006, 07:00 PM

The only thing I don't like about Giant Steps is when I try and listen to it with headphones. I find the hard panning very difficult to listen to.

So I just listen to it on my home stereo and all is well. Great album!

Clay_Bass · #16 10-16-2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Interesting thing about the tune "Giant Steps"...Tommy Flanagan, the pianist on the track, seems to be struggling with those changes...and who could blame him?

He got the charts the night before and looked them over thinking it was a ballad. When he got to the session and trane counted it off obviously he had the oh **** thing and thus a bad solo.

markjazzbassist · #17 10-16-2006, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Coltrane said 'I don't know how to stop'. Miles said, "Take the horn out of your mouth".

hilarious.

i can't count how many times ive wanted to say a similar thing to guitarist, keys players, etc.

i got nothing against trane though, love this album and love supreme too.

**Vorago** · #18 10-17-2006, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

3-His solos were too long/self-indulgent & smacked of someone 'practicing on the bandstand'. Miles told 'Trane to edit his solos & Coltrane said 'I don't know how to stop'. Miles said, "Take the horn out of your mouth".

Interesting thing about the tune "Giant Steps"...Tommy Flanagan, the pianist on the track, seems to be struggling with those changes...and who could blame him?

Haha, gotta love that dialogue

And the changes on Giant Steps are indeed completely crazy.

Try walking that!

Bruce Lindfield · #19 10-17-2006, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vorago

Haha, gotta love that dialogue

And the changes on Giant Steps are indeed completely crazy.

Try walking that!

There have been a few threads on here about this - it's not that hard : the whole tune is really only V-I and II-V-I progressions in 3 key centres a major third apart - B,G and Eb.

Matt Till · #20 10-17-2006, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimK

Who?

... Fine