Song of the Day: John Coltrane, “Giant Steps”


“Giant Steps” is one of John Coltrane’s most famous compositions and a fine showcase of his fabled “sheets of sound” style, with which he revolutionized jazz and saxophone playing. The piece first appeared on the 1960 album of the same name, which was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2001. Shortly after its original release, “Giant Steps” and its cyclic, swiftly modulating chord progression became a proving ground for jazz improvisers the world over. Today, it is regarded as one of the most important jazz compositions of the 20th century and occasionally referred to as “The Most Feared Song in Jazz.”

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