Giant Steps

iTunes Review

John Coltrane had already established himself as a formidable saxophonist — most famously with Miles Davis — when this album came out in 1960. With this landmark release, Coltrane would emerge as a great band leader and an important composer. As soon as the opening title track blasts off, the listener is witness to an advanced harmonic exploration, a journey buoyed by “giant steps” — the atypical intervals in the bass part performed by Paul Chambers. (Pianist Tommy Flanagan and drummer Art Taylor round out the quartet that appears on most of the album.) On many albums, the high-energy “Countdown” would be a standout, but here it’s just another excellent track. One piece that does stand out, the ballad “Naima,” might be Coltrane’s most gorgeous composition. The pianist Wynton Kelly, who only appears on this single cut, displays a heartbreaking lyricism marked by restraint, lovely chord voicings, and a tender touch. And Chambers performs the simple bass part like the world depends on every full-bodied note. There are a thousand details to get lost in here, but make no mistake, Coltrane’s masterful solos are at the heart of Giant Steps; they will continue to be studied — and marveled at — for years to come.