John coltrane

Coltrane was born from humble roots in Hamlet, North Carolina. While he was still young, much of his family passed away, and music started developing importance in his life. Some of his early heroes included Johnny Hodges and Dexter Gordon. Having reached his adulthood in the 40's,  Coltrane became fascinated by bebop, which was the new music of the time and introduced him to jazz with more rhythmic freedom and more focus on harmony rather than the melodic lines. Coltrane worked hard to get his way up the ladder in the music industry, playing in the sax section of big bands and backing jazz and R&B singers. In the summer of 1955, he received a call to audition for Miles Davis’ band. After playing together for a while, Davis knew he wanted Coltrane’s sound with him, and Coltrane soon became an essential part of the band. Joining the band brought Coltrane much fame and recognition, and though he struggled with heroin abuse and was even kicked from the band for a few months, his relationship with Davis allowed him to find himself. So in 1957, he found himself with his signature style and recording in his studio, clean from drugs and working productively as a newfound composer. After Coltrane met Thelonious Monk under his tutelage that same year, he discovered modal jazz, a fresh start from the same old bebop. Ready and inspired to dive into this newly discovered jazz, he developed his renowned album “Kind of Blue” (1959), where he incorporated modal jazz fully into his new creation. Although Davis tried keeping Coltrane under his band, Coltrane was now on his own way, having groups of his own and continuing to write.