Following in Giant Steps
Date of Graduation
Fall 2008
Degree
Master of Music
Department
Music
Committee Chair
Michael Murray
Abstract
It is safe to say that John Coltrane's composition and improvisational solos on Giant Steps have had a profound influence on the jazz community as a whole, but particularly saxophonists. Recorded on 26 March 1959 (not 1 April 1959 as has been mistakenly reported before) Coltrane's improvisational solos on Giant Steps explore new voice-leadings and harmonic motion, while maintaining the swing style of his predecessors. This paper will look into the master takes of John Coltrane's solos on Giant Steps and attempt to break them down into their original melodic ideas. During the analytical process the author will not only look into the history of the composition and recording, but point to the harmonic structure and voice-leadings chosen by Coltrane in his solos. In an attempt to show the influence that Giant Steps has had on the jazz community, the author will compare the solos of Coltrane to his contemporaries, Kenny Garrett and Michael Brecker by analyzing and breaking down their solos on John Coltrane's Giant Steps.
Keywords
giant steps, John Coltrane, saxophone, jazz, music theory
Subject Categories
Music
Copyright
© T. Joel Griffin
Recommended Citation
Griffin, T. Joel, "Following in Giant Steps" (2008). MSU Graduate Theses. 2670.
https://bearworks.missouristate.edu/theses/2670
Dissertation/Thesis