This is where things really began to take off for John Coltrane. He signed himself onto Atlantic Records, which made a huge difference to his ability to record his own music. Prior to this, John Coltrane had less creative and artistic freedom and was unable to compose an album of totally original material. The result of this important change was this album, which is now widely seen as a classic in many different ways and was the first John Coltrane album that really broke his talent into a fairly wide listening audience. It was even featured in the various lists of Rolling Stone’s Top 500 Albums Of All Time. Indeed, this must have taken a great sense of talent on vinyl to do so. Let’s take a listen to this album and hear if it still stands tall today.

Giant Steps is the title track here and is well known for being notoriously difficult for Jazz musicians to play. It begins with some of the smoothest Jazz music out there and sounds absolutely beautiful. The playing is extremely intricate and detailed. John Coltrane plays an amazing saxophone on this piece and sounds like a top-notch legend at work. One can immediately hear why this tune is so difficult to replicate, it is somewhat like attempting to replicate some shred style playing, set to Jazz. Still, this is an absolute joy to hear and the music is skilled and professional. This is definitely one of the best pieces of music from way back in 1960. Lively and awesome, John Coltrane and company play for their lives here. The intricacies of the double bass playing, piano and drums to support this are fantastic as well. The piano solo in the second half of the track is smooth as well. A piece of music that sounds very intricate, pretty and detailed is present here. Soon enough, John Coltrane returns on the saxophone to dazzle the listener. Really awesome music from start to finish, this is one of the finest Jazz pieces made to date. An excellent listen throughout.

Cousin Mary begins with an upbeat saxophone, pummelling drums and a great sense of classy music about it. The saxophone playing by John Coltrane is memorable, glorious and wonderful simultaneously. Indeed, this is another solid gold classic tune by John Coltrane and his band. A really awesome and excellent tune to hear and listen to, this definitely sounds amazing for what it is. Playing in a sensual and upbeat way, John Coltrane and company sound absolutely marvellous on this tune. Some fluttering parts are here throughout on the saxophone, along with a real swinging feel to the music. This is outstanding music, without a doubt. A fresh and interesting piano part is present here near the middle, and the track definitely does benefit from it. This is something that is perfect for that upbeat social function or dinner party event that you intend to host. All in all, this does sound really amazing. Towards the end, things get subtle with some prominent double bass and treble based percussion. Really awesome and fine, the saxophone eventually returns and sounds really quite great. This gradually wraps up very nicely with a repeated melody on the saxophone and piano, before concluding with lone saxophone parts. Brilliant.

Countdown begins with some fantastic drum rolls as a drum solo goes on. It sounds like predicting the future of music. Soon enough, a saxophone solo with percussion progresses very nicely. This is a bit of a left turn for this record, and it does sound great, just like what came before it. A racing and fast-played tune with some delicious piano thrown in for good measure, this is yet another outstanding piece of music in the cannon of John Coltrane. All in all, this sub-three-minute-long piece is fantastic to hear. The music here is incredibly awesome and lively. If you need a quick sample of this album, this track is it. Fantastic.

Spiral is a six minute piece that begins a lot slower than the previous track. It quickly enters into a swinging groove based vibe that is intelligent, rhythmic and fantastic. John Coltrane solos nicely over the top of it all, exuding emotional playing and confidence throughout. A really top-notch listen, once again. This music is a great example of how Jazz can be best expressed. Really great and awesome music, this is sensationally sweet. A fine and lasting tune throughout the decades, without a doubt. Also, bear in mind that this isn’t even the most highly regarded album by John Coltrane, and it still kicks the proverbial. A wonderful, interesting and joyful listening experience, this is exactly what one should hear after a long day at work. In other words, it is fantastic. A cheerful sounding piano solo emerges in the middle of the track, along with some nimble and precise double bass work. Very thorough, and fresh sounding too. A really interesting and varied tune, Jazz music has often been neglected over the years, and it doesn’t deserve to be so. It gets rather subtle in the second half, which is both suspenseful and interesting to listen to. Nonetheless, a world-class effort throughout. Super cool, this requires Rayban sunglasses to be on when listening. Soon enough, the saxophone returns towards the end and this tune reaches a grand and logical conclusion gradually. John Coltrane sounds brilliant here, as does the rest of the group. Fantastic to hear from start to finish. It ends smoothly.

Syeeda’s Song Flute is the longest piece on this album at over seven minutes long. It begins with hi-hats, touches of piano and saxophone riffs galore. It quickly enters into a strange sounding Jazz piece that brings a twist to the album. It has rhythm and style throughout. The tune quickly gets going nicely, and sounds very excellent. The sound of John Coltrane’s saxophone is very much front and centre, and the band support him perfectly. A strange listen for the style of Jazz here, this does sound very interesting nonetheless. No doubt many great guitarists from the 1960s onwards were massively influenced by the Jazz music here. Towards the middle, a lively piano solo emerges as the saxophone playing stops, and it does sound very neat. A really top and awesome listen and mood is here, and this is relaxing listening from start to finish. All in all, a wonderful and tuneful listening experience. The music present has lasted for generations, and so it should. Soon after, some double bass soloing is present, and the whole group play marvellously as a unit. This sounds super smooth as a result. The music and melodicism here are fairly free, without losing the unified flavour of the group. A really amazing listening experience throughout, this is sensationally awesome and good. Towards the end, the saxophone intermittently re-emerges with the rest of the group, toing and froing with the melodies present. Really awesome and cool. It reaches a gradual finish, with the saxophone soloing away nicely. Great.

Naima begins slowly, with some sustained saxophone melodies and a track that sounds really great. It is very enjoyable, and exactly the sort of thing you would have a glass of wine and smoke pipe tobacco to. Nonetheless, this is really awesome music that sounds sensual and uplifting simultaneously. It may be too slow for some, however, but nonetheless, this does work. A piano section follows and this sounds very pretty and detailed. Like an Impressionistic piece of art by Monet, this cannot easily be dismissed or forgotten, it is a true classic of artistic expression. Nonetheless, this is another gorgeous and wonderful artistic piece of beauty. Really top-notch music that should be heard more often by even the casual listener, this sounds very pretty and beautiful. A superb listen all the way through, it is an awesome four minute long piece of calm listening. The melodies here are very memorable. It eventually wraps up nicely, good job.

Mr. P.C. is the final track on this album. It is a much quicker sounding tune, with glorious musicianship and playing from John Coltrane and his band. John Coltrane plays quickly and breezily, and he makes some really outstanding moves musically on his saxophone here. A really tremendous tune to listen to, this is a solid gold Jazz staple that works extremely well. Full of dramatic playing and colourful flourishes, this is sensationally amazing and works a real treat. Fine music for those who demand something a bit more highbrow than Rock music, and something a bit more dramatic than Classical Music, this simply works brilliantly. A great, great tune. The playing and soloing on this tune are absolutely fantastic to hear. John Coltrane proves that Miles Davis had some serious competition in the world of Jazz music. Another glorious piano solo emerges in the middle, just sounding pretty and fantastic. This is matched by awesome double bass playing and excellent percussion work. Really extremely cool music to listen to. No doubt that this is exactly what the world of music needed at the time. The music speeds along nicely throughout and just sounds eternally brilliant. Some great drum fills enter in the second half of this piece, breaking up the rest of the band very nicely. Excellent work, the drums do add some extra flavour to this wonderful music. Nonetheless, this does sound really cool and works a treat. Thoroughly top-notch, and a wonderful way to hear some incredibly talented and useful Jazz musicians duke it out. It finishes just before seven minutes in length, another delightful effort.

This is a Jazz album staple that many out there should have in their music collection. It is also one of John Coltrane’s best releases, after A Love Supreme. That was still to come later on, however. The music here is without a doubt, extraordinarily good and interesting, with many twists and turns throughout. Should you listen to this album? If you have heard A Love Supreme and were easily impressed, then this is the next logical step to listen to musically. Trivia freaks may also notice that many of the names of these tracks were people close to John Coltrane as well. A great album from start to finish.

An excellent way to kick-start the 1960s.

9/10