John Coltrane: Most Controversial Figure In Jazz

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Recommended: The spiritual work of John Coltrane

Valerie Fong
Period 5
John Coltrane Born September 23rd 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina, John Coltrane is both one the most significant figures in jazz and one of the most controversial figures in jazz. In addition to being a jazz saxophonist, he also made important contributions to jazz as a composer.

Starting in December 1938, Coltrane tragically lost his uncle, grandparents, and father all within months of one another, leaving John behind to be raised by his mother, aunt, and a close cousin. In June 1943 he moved to Philadelphia. A few months later, his mother bought him his first alto saxophone, originally playing the clarinet and alto horn in a community band before taking up the alto saxophone during high school. Coltrane very briefly attended the Ornstein School of Music and continued to study at Granoff Studios. His first professional gigs in early 1945 were as a part …show more content…

He continued to play with various bands around Philadelphia during the early 1950s, but his next important job did not come until the spring of 1954. Johnny Hodges, temporarily out of the Duke Ellington band, hired him, but Coltrane was fired because of his addiction in September of the same year. Back in Philadelphia again, where he continued playing, he was then hired by Miles Davis a year later. His association with Davis was his big break that allowed him to truly establish himself as a significant jazz musician. Coltrane’s association with Davis led to the release of The New Miles Davis Quintet in April 1956, recorded for Prestige.

Coltrane attempted but did not succeed in kicking heroin in the summer of 1956. Davis fired him, took him back, and fired him again all within the span of some months. Freed of the commitment to playing with Davis, Coltrane began to record even more frequently. On May31, 1957, he finally made recording debut as leader, putting together his own pickup

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