John Coltrane: Giant Steps 12"

John Coltrane: Giant Steps 12"


Tags: · 60s · jazz · reissues
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Released in 1960, Giant Steps may have been John Coltrane's fifth album as leader, but it was the first one that really made an impact within the jazz community. It was also his first album for Atlantic and the fact that it was released on a major label rather than Prestige, which was known almost entirely as a jazz label, probably didn't hurt its chances at being heard by a larger audience either.

 

There's also big names all over the credits on Giant Steps: the album was produced by Nesuhi Ertegun, engineered by Tom Dowd, featured piano from Tommy Flanagan and Wynton Kelly, drums by Art Taylor and Jimmy Cobb, and bass by Paul Chambers. In addition to the title track, which has come to be recognized as a jazz classic (like basically every song on the album), there was also a hint of jazz to come with the track "Naima," which featured Kelly and Cobb, who – along with Chambers – were the predominant players on his next album, Coltrane Jazz.

 

Even if you're not a jazz fan, this is one of those albums that practically transcends the genre, so if you've ever felt like you should at least have a token entry in the "jazz" section of your collection, this is a perfect way to take care of that omission.