John William Coltrane (also known as "Trane"; September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz. He organized at least fifty recording sessions as a leader during his recording career, and appeared as a sideman on many other albums, notably with trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk. As his career progressed, Coltrane and his music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension. His second wife was pianist Alice Coltrane and their son Ravi Coltrane is a saxophonist. Coltrane influenced innumerable musicians, and remains one of the most significant saxophonists in jazz history. He received many posthumous awards and recognitions, including canonization by the African Orthodox Church as Saint John William Coltrane. In 2007, Coltrane was awarded the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his "masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz." John William Coltrane (also known as "Trane"; September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967) was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz. He organized at least fifty recording sessions as a leader during his recording career, and appeared as a sideman on many other albums, notably with trumpeter Miles Davis and pianist Thelonious Monk. As his career progressed, Coltrane and his music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension. His second wife was pianist Alice Coltrane and their son Ravi Coltrane is a saxophonist. Coltrane influenced innumerable musicians, and remains one of the most significant saxophonists in jazz history. He received many posthumous awards and recognitions, including canonization by the African Orthodox Church as Saint John William Coltrane. In 2007, Coltrane was awarded the Pulitzer Prize Special Citation for his "masterful improvisation, supreme musicianship and iconic centrality to the history of jazz." false 2025-11-07 18:56:10 7045 Avant-Garde Avant-Garde Jazz Bebop Big Band Blues Contemporary Jazz Cool Jazz Free Improvisation Free Jazz Hard Bop Instrumental Instrumental Jazz Jazz Jazz Blues Modal Jazz Post-Bop Soul Jazz Spiritual Jazz 114605 b625448e-bf4a-41c3-a421-72ad46cdb831 /media/data/media5/Music/John Coltrane/folder.jpg /media/data/media5/Music/John Coltrane/backdrop1.jpg /media/data/media5/Music/John Coltrane/fanart.jpg 1962 1962 1963 1964 1967 1967 1968 1986 1987 1989 1989 1991 1993 1993 1995 1996 1996 1996 1996 1996 1997 1998 1998 1998 2000 2000 2000 2001 2001 2002 2002 2004 2006 2006 2006 2007 2007 2008 2008 2008 2008 2009 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2017 2018 2019 2021 2021 2022 John Coltrane