John Coltrane Giant Steps

[VideoGameCritic]

Remember we were talking about Jazz albums this past summer? Well I just picked up John Coltrane "Giant Steps" and I'm liking it quite a bit. I couldn't get over that first song "Giant Steps". He's going a mile a minute on that tenor sax. The whole album isn't that fast but there is definitely a lot of energy here. More of a party album than a dinner album.

While trying to think of good adjectives I saw these on the back cover: Exuberant, furious, impassioned, and thundering. Yeah that about sums it up. I like to lay flat on the carpet after a long day's work, put this on and soak it in.

The album was records in 1960 so I was thinking about how people have been listening to this for six (!) decades and it never gets old. I really get the impression that time period was the golden age of Jazz when the masters were at work.

It's my third Jazz album after Kind of Blue (Miles Davis) and Sunday at the Village Vanguard (Bill Evans). What's next? You guys never steer me wrong.

[Stalvern]

I haven't had the time lately to put together a proper post for this thread, but John Coltrane is one of my favorite musicians, and A Love Supreme is my favorite album ever. I also strongly recommend Crescent, a wonderfully dark and lovely album, the classic Blue Train, and, if you're feeling adventurous about his late-period free jazz, Expression and Interstellar Space.

[VideoGameCritic]

Stalvern,
Thanks for chiming in! Glad this thread didn't go to waste!
I never know what Jazz album to buy but you guys never steer me wrong.
I will put A Love Supreme on my next Amazon order. I'll be sure to report back.

[VideoGameCritic]

I checked out Love Supreme on Amazon, and all they really have is a super deluxe 3-record set for $43.
Seemed like a bit much for me, but probably right up your alley since you're a big fan.

[goldenband]

If you dig Giant Steps I'd try the albums that came before and afterward, namely Blue Train (I second the earlier recommendation) and Coltrane's Sound. In Blue Train he's laying the foundation for the approach he developed with Giant Steps, while with Coltrane's Sound he takes it even further.

I'd also pick up Johnny Hartman & John Coltrane, a beautiful album of ballads; it's vocal jazz, yes, but of the highest caliber, with no lounge-lizard ickiness about it. And I also second the recommendation of Crescent.

And after that? How about Oliver Nelson's Blues and the Abstract Truth, Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage, or if you want to try a slightly offbeat album that I like a lot, Stan Getz's Sweet Rain. And don't sleep on Thelonious Monk; a good starting point is Monk's Music.