Ethan Teaches You Music Podcast How "Giant Steps" ruined jazz education
Aug 24, 2025
Delve into the complexities of John Coltrane's 'Giant Steps,' a piece that redefined jazz education and raised unrealistic expectations for musicians. Explore Coltrane's tumultuous journey, his creativity during 1960, and the innovative depths of jazz improvisation. The discussion touches on free jazz's polarizing nature, the importance of emotional expression over technical perfection, and the humorous misinterpretations often encountered by students. Discover how intuitive melody playing and modern reinterpretations can enrich the jazz experience.
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Giant Steps Became A Gatekeeper
- John Coltrane's Giant Steps was an extreme intellectual and technical achievement at its time.
- Ethan argues it later became an outsized gatekeeper in jazz education that distorts priorities.
Early Career And Practice Ethos
- Coltrane rose from journeyman musician to a standout after joining Miles Davis at 29.
- Early recordings show discipline and fanatical practice but not yet the mature voice he'd later find.
Monk Mentorship Transformed Coltrane
- Coltrane's time with Thelonious Monk transformed his playing and theoretical thinking.
- Monk mentored him and helped Coltrane start to sound unmistakably like himself.
