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John Coltrane

His mother, Alice Blair Coltrane, moved to New Jersey to work as a domestic while John completed high school. John played first the clarinet, then alto saxophone in his high school band. His first musical influence was the tenor saxophonist Lester Young of Count Basie's band. In June of 1943, after graduation, Coltrane moved to Philadelphia to be closer to his mother.

After a yearlong stint in the Navy (1945-46), Coltrane began playing gigs in and around Philadelphia. During this time he became involved in drug and alcohol use, vices that would follow him throughout his career and ultimately lead to his death.

In late 1949 Coltrane was invited to play alto sax with Dizzy Gillespie's band; the first recording session was on November 21 of that year. When the big band broke up in May of 1950 Coltrane moved to the tenor saxophone and played with Gillespie's small band until May of the next year. Coltrane played with Earl Bostic's group in 1952, switching to the band of his early idol Johnny Hodges in 1953.

Problems with drug and alcohol abuse, however, forced Coltrane out of the group in 1954. Miles Davis called upon Coltrane in the summer of 1955 to join a group he was forming. The Miles Davis quintet's first recording was made in October of 1955, the same month in which Coltrane was married to Naima Grubbs. The quintet was comprised of Davis on trumpet, Coltrane on tenor sax, Red Garland on piano, Paul Chambers on bass, and Philly Joe Jones on the drums. It was in his years with this quintet that Coltrane's abilities were truly recognized and appreciated.

In April 1957, though, Coltrane was again forced to take a break from playing to deal with his substance abuse problems; Davis replaced him with Sonny Rollins. He played briefly with Thelonious Monk in late 1957 before rejoining the Miles Davis quintet in January 1958. Coltrane played with this group until April 1960, when he set out to form his own group.

The John Coltrane quartet first formed in April of 1960 with Coltrane playing tenor saxophone, McCoy Tyler on piano, Elvin Jones on drums, and Jimmy Harrison on bass. It was during the first years of this group that Coltrane graduated from an above-average tenor saxophonist to an elite bandleader, composer, and improvisor. "My Favorite Things", the epic album featuring "Every Time We Say Goodbye", "Summertime", "But Not For Me", and the title track, was recorded in 1960. This was undoubtedly Coltrane's most successful and popular album, and granted him the commercial success that had eluded him thus far in his career.

Thelonious Monk, John Coltrane, Barry Harris, Don Patterson, Sonny Stitt And Others

by Lawrence Peryer
September 13, 2026

The beating heart of this week's episode emanates from one man's camera expressed through three records:, Thelonious Monk and John Coltrane's 1957 residency, Barry Harris' 1975 Xanadu debut, and a rediscovered Sonny Stitt & Don Patterson date, all appear in a new book of Don Schlitten's jazz photography, the producer and photographer who died earlier this year after decades behind the board and behind the lens. Around that center, the hour goes wide: Welsh harp meeting up with Senegalese kora, ...

Radio & Podcasts

The John Coltrane Centennial, Part 4: Late Recordings Including A Love Supreme

by Larry Slater
September 11, 2026

In this final hour of a centennial tribute to John Coltrane, we turn to his late recordings. Coltrane died at age 40, and in his last few years he expanded his musical output to.include gorgeous melodies, spiritual masterpieces and music that was free of any musical convention. Crescent highlights Coltrane at his most lyrical. Coltrane's magnum opus is, without question, A Love Supreme, which was recorded in a single session in late 1964. Both Directions at Once was ...

History of Jazz

John Coltrane in Detroit: A Brief History

by Paul Rauch
September 8, 2026

When the calendar turned to 2026, a spirit of celebration was sparked in the jazz community. It marked one hundred years from the birth dates of two jazz titans in John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Coltrane departed us in 1967 from cancer, a life of barely more than forty years that changed the course of jazz. He had forged his approach to playing as a member of Davis' groundbreaking, mid-1950s sextet. Davis, after a brief hiatus in the mid 1970s, ...

Radio & Podcasts

The John Coltrane Centennial, Part 3: Coltrane emerges as a leader

by Larry Slater
August 29, 2026

By 1960 John Coltrane had emerged as a singular voice on the saxophone.Though he recorded several dates as a leader in the '50s, it wasn't until he left Miles Davis that he began recording with his own groups. His first recording for Atlantic Records, released in 1960, was Giant Steps, featuring several compositions that were soon to become jazz standards. Sublime recordings with the vocalist Johnny Hartman and maestro Duke Ellington followed. Coltrane embraced the rarely heard soprano ...

Radio & Podcasts

The John Coltrane Centennial, part 2: 1950s era recordings as a leader

by Larry Slater
August 21, 2026

John Coltrane was a member of Miles Davis' quintet from 1955-1957, and then again later in the decade after he kicked his heroin habit. His tenure with Miles led to his first opportunities to record as a leader for Prestige Records and Blue Note, including “Blue Trane" and his Prestige releases “Coltrane" and “Settin' the Pace." “Blue Trane" was the first recording to include all original Coltrane compositions, and one of his most successful recordings.You'll hear commentary on ...

Radio & Podcasts

The John Coltrane Centennial, part 1: Coltrane's early years with Miles and Monk

by Larry Slater
August 7, 2026

John Coltrane is, without a doubt, one of the most revered and influential musicians of the modern jazz era. A controversial musician during his lifetime, his legacy continued to grow after his death in 1967 at age 40. His outsized impact on the world of jazz is all the more remarkable considering his career as a featured artist lasted only 12 years, beginning with his tenure in Miles Davis' quintet and Thelonious Monk's quartet.In this hour, you'll hear ...

Catching Up With

Tyler Soifer: The Art of Audio

by Kitty Kalriess
July 26, 2026

On April 8, 2026, musicians Joe Lovano, Melissa Aldana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Linda May Han Oh and Jeff Tain Watts treated an audience to their collaborative reflection of John Coltrane in celebration of what would be the the centennial of the birth of the iconic saxophonist. The McCarter center on the campus of Princeton University hosted Coltrane 100, and the touring group performed to an almost sold-out house. After long contemplation of the masterful performance, a thought lingered; the ...

Recording

Perfection: John Coltrane's "You Say You Care"

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
June 18, 2024

Continuing my new series called Perfection, today's sublime track is John Coltrane's cover of Jule Styne's composition You Say You Care, which Styne wrote for Broadway's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949). The song is from Coltrane's Soultrane album, which features John Coltrane (ts), Red Garland (p), Paul Chambers (b) and Art Taylor (d). Recorded in February 1958 for Prestige, Soultrane is also known for Ira Gitler's liner notes, in which he coined “sheets of sound" to describe Coltrane's late 1950s approach ...
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Performance / Tour

World-renowned Smoke Jazz Club Ends The Year With The 11th Annual Coltrane Festival Countdown 2024, New Year’s Eve Celebration With Carla Cook, And More

Source: AMT Public Relations
November 7, 2023

Rated the #1 Jazz Club in New York City (Secret NYC), SMOKE Jazz Club ends 2023 with an exciting line-up in December. The month begins with a rare solo piano doubleheader by Brad Mehldau (Dec 1-2) preceded by his Trio (Nov 29-30). For 11 nights, SMOKE presents its 11th annual Coltrane Festival: “Countdown 2024.” Some of today’s top musicians join forces to celebrate the life and musical legacy of the great saxophonist and composer John Coltrane. Tenor giant George Coleman ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John Coltrane

Source: Michael Ricci
September 23, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating John Coltrane's birthday today!

John William Coltrane was born on September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. At the age of three his family moved to High Point, NC, where young Coltrane spent his early years. His father, John Robert Coltrane, died in 1939, leaving twelve year-old John and his mother on their own. His mother, Alice Blair Coltrane, moved to New Jersey to work as a domestic while John completed high school. John played ...
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Recording

Evenings At The Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy - Never-Before-Heard Recording Of Two Of The Most Iconic Forces In Jazz - Set To Debut July 14

Source: Michael Ricci
June 3, 2023

In the summer of 1961, John Coltrane headlined at the celebrated music venue, the Village Gate. With a lineup of musicians that included McCoy Tyner, Reggie Workman, Elvin Jones, and the fiery playing of Eric Dolphy, Evenings at the Village Gate captures the creative and transformative spirit that sprang from the pairing of Coltrane and Dolphy, and the evolving short-lived quintet. Evenings At The Village Gate: John Coltrane With Eric Dolphy will be released globally July 14 on Impulse! Records/UMe. ...
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Performance / Tour

World-Renowned Smoke Jazz Club Ends The Year With The Annual Coltrane Festival 'Countdown 2023,' And More

Source: AMT Public Relations
November 5, 2022

Holiday Shows: Allan Harris (Dec 7-8) Orrin Evans All-Star Quintet (Dec 9-11) Goldings/Bernstein/Stewart Trio (Dec 15-18) Coltrane Festival: George Coleman, Eric Alexander, Melissa Aldana, Eric Reed, Vincent Herring, Billy Harper, Billy Hart, and More (Dec 20-Jan 8) and more... One of New York City's premier live music venues, Smoke Jazz Club, presents a stellar line-up of some of music's greatest artists during the month of December. For 16 nights, SMOKE presents its 10th Annual Coltrane Festival, “Countdown 2023," ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John Coltrane

Source: Michael Ricci
September 23, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating John Coltrane's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John Coltrane

Source: Michael Ricci
September 23, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating John Coltrane's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John Coltrane

Source: Michael Ricci
September 23, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating John Coltrane's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: John Coltrane

Source: Michael Ricci
September 23, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating John Coltrane's birthday today!

Event

Pittsburgh's Con Alma To Host Coltrane And Monk Birthday Celebrations

Source: Mackenzie Horne
September 18, 2019

Con Alma is excited to announce upcoming celebrations in acknowledgment of John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk’s birthdays. An observance of saxophonist John Coltrane’s birth will take place from September 18-September 23. During this special period, Con Alma’s house band, which showcases some of the finest talent in the Pittsburgh area, will perform selections from Coltrane’s prolific discography. In October, the Con Alma house band returns to celebrate the birth of pianist Thelonious Monk. Festivities will kick off on October 11. ...
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Recent Releases

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

John Coltrane

Instrument: Saxophone
Born: September 23, 1926
Died: July 17, 1967