Overview
In this section, we will focus on the late 1950s and early 1960s to learn more about Miles Davis and two of his most influential sidemen: Bill Evans and John Coltrane. We will consider the significance of Davis' musical compositions and those of his fellow musicians, and examine how their works continue to impact jazz even to the present day.
Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to do the following:
- Identify many of the contributions of Miles Davis to jazz
- Define modal jazz
- Recognize the contributions of Bill Evans to jazz—most especially to jazz piano
- Recognize the contributions of the members of Bill Evans’ most celebrated trio
- Recognize the contributions of John Coltrane as saxophonist, composer and bandleader
- Recognize the contributions of the members of John Coltrane’s classic quartet
Toward Free Jazz
Coltrane's evolution in the 1960s would mark him as the most influential saxophonist since Charlie Parker. The chord-based improvisations of Giant Steps ♫ and the modal style jazz created through the use of pedal pointsA repeated or sustained note, usually in the bass, over which the melody and harmonies move. were both widely imitated by those who followed him.
John Coltrane was additionally influential for his recurring forays into the realm of free jazzA style of jazz characterized by an absence of pre-set chord progressions. . Several of his pieces in this vein featured dense, dissonant, collective improvisations that seemed to be "free" of any pre-conceived musical structures, although there were some pre-set structural guidelines. We will examine free jazz and the avant-garde in the next lesson.
A pedal point can also be called a pedal tone, pedal note or an organ point. It is called "pedal" point referring to the notes sustained by using the pedals on an organ.
