Remix.run Logo
▲ tniemi 2 hours ago

Here's an explanation of John Coltrane's "Giant Steps."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62tIvfP9A2w

▲rectang an hour ago | parent [-]

The Coltrane changes are lovely, but if you slow them down they aren't substantially more difficult than other Jazz changes from that era. What makes Giant Steps so challenging is mainly the tempo.

Tommy Flanagan, the pianist who struggled a bit on the original Coltrane recording, put out a recording of Giant Steps with his own trio in the 1980s. Having had enough time by then to woodshed the changes, his improvs are exquisite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3PWynH-CEc

▲Forgeties79 10 minutes ago | parent [-]

If you slow down a song enough you will make it easy enough for anyone ha the tempo is part of the challenge!