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Artist Profiles - Saxophonist John Coltrane

John William Coltrane was an jazz saxophonist and composer.

Coltrane was born September 23, 1926 in Hamlet North Carolina. Coltrane grew up in High Point NC, moving to Philadelphia PA in June 1943. He was inducted into the Navy in 1945, returning to civilian life in 1946. He joined Dizzy Gillespie’s big band in 1949. He stayed with Gillespie through the band’s breakup in May 1950 and worked with Gillespie’s small group until April 1951.

In early 1952 he joined Earl Bostic's band, and in 1953 he joined Johnny Hodges’s small group staying until mid 1954.

Although there are recordings of Coltrane from as early as 1946, his real career spanned between 1955 and 1967, during which time he reshaped modern jazz and influenced generations of other musicians. Coltrane joined the Miles Davis quintet from October 1955 through April 1957, a period which saw influential recordings from Davis and the first signs of Coltrane's ability.

During the latter part of 1957 Coltrane worked with Thelonious Monk at New York's Five Spot, a legendary gig. He rejoined Miles in January, 1958 during which time he participated in such seminal Davis sessions as Milestones and Kind Of Blue, and recorded his own influential sessions (notably Giant Steps).

Coltrane died from liver cancer at Huntington Hospital on Long Island on July 17, 1967.