John Coltrane’s ‘Giant Steps’ explained
My lunch just got a lot tastier thanks to this episode of Earworm by Vox. This particular edition explains why John Coltrane’s “Giant Steps” is the pinnacle of jazz improvisation.
Video editor Estelle Caswell makes the complex subject matter of the ‘Coltrane changes’ insightful within barely ten minutes.
Together with saxophonist Braxton Cook and bass player and composer Adam Neely she gives a crash course about the chord progressions, the circle of fifths, and how “Giant Steps” is like an M.C. Escher painting. Cue for another metaphor: this video dates back to December of last year, so I guess I’m late like Tommy Flanagan’s timing.
