We’ve come to the final day of our Sax Advent Calendar, day 24 and it could be no other person but John Coltrane.
John Coltrane was born on 23rd September 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. He grew up in Philadelphia and made his name alongside Miles Davis, before becoming a superstar in his own right. Coltrane, like Charlie Parker has influenced every saxophonist who has come after them, be it in jazz or classical music.
As his career progressed, Coltrane and his music took on an increasingly spiritual dimension. Coltrane influenced innumerable musicians, and remains one of the most significant saxophonists in music history. He received many posthumous awards and recognitions, including canonization by the African Orthodox Church as Saint John William Coltrane and a special Pulitzer Prize in 2007.[2] His second wife was pianist Alice Coltrane and their son, Ravi Coltrane, is also a saxophonist.