John Coltrane

John Coltrane (September 23, 1926 - July 17, 1967) was an American jazz musician and composer best known for his work with the tenor and soprano saxophones. Coltrane, nicknamed "Trane" by friends, quickly rose from working as a relatively obscure sideman to having attained the status of jazz legend during his short lived recording career spanning the years 1955 to 1967. During these years, Coltrane performed in a variety of styles spanning hard bop, modal jazz, and the free jazz movement, although it is never easy for the listener to peg a specific Coltrane song to a specific genre. Coltrane was known for his devotion to musical theory and practice as well as an intense interest in experimentation and musical exploration. His relentless quest for spiritual fulfillment characterized much of his later ouput, particularly his 1964 critically-acclaimed album A Love Supreme. Coltrane is generally regarded among jazz critics as being one of the most influential jazz musicians of his generation as well as one of the most technically proficient saxophone players of all time. Indeed, his skill and influence on the instrument has earned him a place alongside his elders and fellow saxophone revolutionaries Lester Young, Ben Webster, and Coleman Hawkins, and he is regarded as a major inspiration for contemporary jazz musicians, including Gilad Atzmon.

Sources

Martin, Henry, and Keith Waters. Jazz: the First 100 Years. 2nd ed. Thomson Schirmer, 2006. 274-284.