John Coltrane - Giant Steps Album

The first disc to contain only his own compositions, John Coltrane's Giant Steps album confirmed Trane's stature as a giant of jazz. Giant Steps is a musician's album and served as a bridge between early Coltrane and his later, more complex offerings. It's a musician's album that set the standard not only for saxophonists but all musicians, requiring a combination of harmonic knowledge and technical skill that sent numerous musicians back to their pianos and saxes for hours of additional practice. Highlights include the title track which demonstrated Coltrane's sheets of sound and "Cousin Mary," which incorporates a great blues sound.