John Coltrane - Giant Steps LP

While John Coltrane first gained attention for his revolutionary 'sheets of sound' technique, it was the deep spirituality of his music that really made his recordings as a bandleader such classics. The albums Coltrane recorded for Atlantic in 1959 and 1960 represent the heart of his unparalleled legacy. Released in 1960, Giant Steps may have been 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, 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, features piano work 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 recogn