Welcome to an analysis of the first 68 bars of Art Taylor’s drumming on John Coltrane’s legendary composition Giant Steps.
Giant Steps is a piece composed by John Coltrane, released in 1960 and featured as the title track of Coltrane’s album of the same name. Played at an up-tempo pace (approx. 290 bpm), the song quickly became a standard and is considered one of the most difficult pieces to play in the entire jazz repertoire due to its rapid chord changes and modulative complexity.
The album Giant Steps was Coltrane’s first release for Atlantic Records. It is considered a classic and one of his highlights. The compositions on the album, especially the title track and “Countdown,” demonstrate Coltrane’s new harmonic concept, in which he plays the underlying chord material precisely in fast eighth notes.
Coltrane worked on Giant Steps during several studio sessions. The first sessions in March and April 1959 with pianist Cedar Walton and drummer Lex Humphries did not satisfy Coltrane. Lewis Porter, Coltrane’s biographer, reports that Walton had to concentrate hard to accompany Coltrane correctly, as the rhythm section had not rehearsed the piece beforehand.
The definitive recording of Giant Steps, which appeared on the album and is transcribed here, was made on May 5, 1959, with pianist Tommy Flanagan, Paul Chambers on bass, and Art Taylor on drums.
Art Taylor was an outstanding jazz drummer whose playing on Giant Steps is often overshadowed by the harmonic complexity of the piece. But his precision, even at this fast tempo, his musical decisions, and his rhythmic foundation are crucial to the sound of this recording. Taylor’s ability to maintain the up tempo while delivering a pushing, driving energy is remarkable.
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Song Info:
Band/Artist: John Coltrane
Album: Giant Steps
Songwriter: John Coltrane
Release date: January or February 1960
Label: Atlantic
Image rights in thumbnail (Photo Credits):
Page URL: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Art_Taylor_Advertisement.jpg
File URL: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b3/Art_Taylor_Advertisement.jpg
Attribution: Gretsch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
