John Coltrane

Quick Facts

Jazz saxophonist, composer, bandleader
One of the most influential jazz musicians
Served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II, played in the base swing band
Made some of his first recordings while in the military
He was known to practice very hard. Someone even said he practiced “25 hours a day.”
While playing with different bands, he distinguished himself as an innovator of new melodic and harmonic patterns.
His style of improvisation called “sheets of sound” is a technique where notes are played very fast.
One of his most famous pieces is “My Favorite Things,” where he takes the Rogers & Hammerstein song and lengthens it to 14 minutes of improvisation. It was popular around the world.
Died of liver cancer at 40.