John Coltrane on Giant Steps | Blank on Blank

"I want to be the force which is truly for good."
- John Coltrane in 1966, as told Frank Kofsky
One afternoon in November 1966, Frank Kofsky took the train out to Long Island. He was about to spend the day with John Coltrane. Kofsky brought his tape recorder and what we get to hear is the conversation the two men had as they drove through town and made a few stops along the way.
Coltrane had moved to Huntington, New York with his wife Alice and their children in 1964. They lived in a modest house on a quiet, tree-lined street. It was a home to raise a family. Coltrane had just turned 40. He would die from liver cancer less than a year later.
During this episode Coltrane talks about moving to the country, setting up to practice, connecting with the sound of an instrument, Malcolm X, music as means of expressing that state of society, and how he wanted to change the world.
More Choice Coltrane
"I keep a horn on the piano and I have a horn in my bedroom."
"Music, being expression of the human heart or the human being itself, does express just what is happening."
"In any situation that we find in our lives, when there’s something we feel should be better, we must exert effort to try and make it better."
Here the full interview: PacificaRadioAr...
Get more Coltrane on our website including Coltrane the saint,
more quotes from this one of Coltrane's final interviews, his battles with Miles Davis, and the super quartet behind Coltrane's "A Love Supreme"
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Executive Producer: David Gerlach
Animator: Patrick Smith
Audio Producer: Amy Drozdowska
Music You Heard
John Coltrane
@ 0:07 “In a Sentimental Mood”
@ 2:27 “My Favorite Things”
APM MUSIC
@ 0:32 Simon Thorpe (PRS), John Donaldson (BMI)
“Break Out”
@ 3:10
Jean Gobinet (SACEM)
“I Was Born Here”
@ 3:35 Colin Towns (PRS)
“Downcast”
@ 4:00 Michele Generale (SIAE), Femi Olasehinde (PRS), Paolo Porta (SIAE)
“Run Time”
search.apmmusi...
Photos
Dutch National Archives
Impulse Records / Charles Stewart
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Help us caption & translate this video!
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[@oziermuhammad2488]

This is the first time I've ever heard John Coltrane in conversation. Wow! what a treat for a person who has been listening to his music since 1966.

[@jojotheoj]

He sounds so normal for an out-of-this-world genius. Not sure what I expected. It’s like hearing a unicorn speak. 🤩 Don’t mind me, I’m star struck.

[@rentalsnake6542]

There's no way you're that old man! You look middle aged.

[@AlbPerNil]

Same here

[@shortie9103]

That is wild 🤯

[@johnnobody3078]

That moment when you know someone's voice like your own, then you suddenly hear them using their larynx.

[@jimsaxman]

I must have seen John Coltrane between 10 and 20 times--concerts, clubs. But I can truly say that I have never heard him speak until now (except hearing him whisper to the players when I was maybe 4 ft. from him at the Jazz Workshop in San Francisco). He just didn't talk to the people, he let his playing talk for him.

[@kavajarrace]

He did a tiny bit of chanting on his 1965 masterpiece A Love Supreme

[@Hump007]

Duuuuude lucky

[@TheCSJones]

That's incredible. Can I ask how old you are?

[@luiscampos3348]

@@TheCSJones im also curious of your age Jim. What a privilege to witness that man live multiple times. Im 22 and just started getting into trane, what a musical genius the guy was

[@mightytaiger3000]

After watching a documentary on miles davis, it made me appreciate his music more and his character less. After reading and listening to interviews of John Coltrane, it made me love his presence in this world, his music a lot more, and the entire universe at a deeper level. Such a beautiful man. Very in tune with his soul.

[@guitarmatricide4834]

I agree with you wholeheartedly. Miles is the greatest jazz artist of all time but the more you find out about his personal life, the less you want to know. Trane was always a great, great dude.

[@manchesterunited9576]

Coltrane did heroin

[@peterodoherty4324]

@@manchesterunited9576 Dosn't make him any less of a man.

[@manchesterunited9576]

@@peterodoherty4324 it makes him even more of a man

[@peterodoherty4324]

@@manchesterunited9576 Exactly, a mans gotta have a hobby

[@Stubummer]

This is so inspiring to me a Trane fan, just hearing his voice is wonderful, thanks.

[@Paracelsus23]

you mean hearing him speak language, the sax IS his voice ; )

[@Drummer_Jacob]

Don't tell someone else what they mean. That's not nice. We've all heard Coltrane play but it IS nice to hear him speak with his actual human voice and hear what he has to say in English and not in music for once.

[@Paracelsus23]

it's called "irony"... the gateway to a sense of humor. Indicated by this ; )

[@Kalul0]

@@Paracelsus23 uhhh... shut up ...

[@tigey2003]

Hj

[@blindboyflowers]

"I want to be a force for Good" And he was.

[@stardust-reverie]

sometimes easy to forget that musical legends from before your time like coltrane were actual people. nice to have a reminder

[@Seth-hc2bj]

The greatest musician that's ever lived

[@justinwillis78]

Seth - Huge statement. I don't agree with it, but can't argue with it. (I must also admit that I personally feel that I am finally scratching the surface with Trane...perhaps I'll agree with you in time). #bestgood

[@Seth-hc2bj]

@@justinwillis78 this isn't to say that other people can't also be the greatest!

[@justinwillis78]

Seth - True. My problem is, I get so hung up on comparing him to Miles (who is my favorite). As I get older, I realize that's not fair to Trane. Perhaps it's as simple as recognizing that their are two completely different journeys (despite their collaboration), by 2 brilliant people.

[@Seth-hc2bj]

@@justinwillis78 I'm inclined to agree with that statement!

[@popcornsamurai]

100%

[@michaelgreen5206]

What a genius Coltrane was. His music is timeless with his signature tone on that tenor.

[@uhumanu6600]

for some strange reason I find myself in a sentimental mood today...

[@karansheth8057]

Exactly

[@erwindorsainville8653]

Is that suppose to be a reference to a song

[@joeroganofficial5433]

Animeboy yeah, in a sentimental mood

[@Ulubai]

I'm feeling this in my Body and my Soul

[@popcornsamurai]

Coltrane and Ellington, Impulse records.

[@MrUndersolo]

Who could give this a thumbs down? Kenny G fans?

[@megajames3000]

they're busy hating on the coltrane interview. Lol

[@charlesliles2966]

Forget about them. Focus on the positive information here.

[@chrisseymour5795]

Maybe people expecting to hear something about Giant Steps...

[@jsamc8420]

the same kind of people who spray up walls.

[@Nayradharma]

K August AHAHAHAHAHA

[@alanasda7705]

“In any situation that we find in our lives, when there’s something we feel should be better, we must exert effort to try and make it better.” Preach, Brother Coltrane 👏🏾🙏🏾

[@choward5430]

I've never heard Coltrane speak. Of course, I loved listening to him. My father was a jazz enthusiast. So in our house, WE HEARD Miles, Parker, Brubeck, Coltrane, Jimmy Smith, Joe Henderson, Horace Silver, Lee Morgan, etc. Thank you for sharing. Loved it! The 60s was the last incredible decade of modern jazz.

[@starshiplazyboy475]

I've never heard Coltrane's speaking voice. Even on his Jazz Casual episode he didn't say anything on camera. Giant Steps, Lush Life, Blue Train, and A Love Supreme loom so large in my life it's great to finally hear him speak.

[@-6sd483]

For some reason, that “The whole of the human experience at that particular time is being expressed” line sounds like something you would find in a scholarly article... really impressed that Coltrane talks in such sophisticated way

[@SamChaneyProductions]

It really brings tears to my eyes to hear Coltrane speaking. He really was a force for good, probably more powerfully influential than he knew during his lifetime. I believe he was an enlightened being in some way

[@matte8677]

Kind of sad hearing him talk about getting tired since he was probably living with cancer(unknowingly)at this point.

[@ustheserfs]

i never saw a person before who had such a constant commitment to his instrument and craft. each day after he had his spiritual epiphany was a gift from above and his hunger for enlightenment never stopped.

[@innovativeprogramschool7979]

Such complicated and otherworldly music came out of such a humble and modest man. Thank you very much Blank on Blank. I really needed this today

[@mahealanicoxhead3036]

It’s so great to hear the voice of a legend.

[@matthewlore9722]

I LOVE hearing the sound of Mr. Coltrane’s laugh. Awesome, vibrance !

[@sereion]

Wow, even though he grew up in the south, I didn't expect hear a down home southern accent! Wow!!!

[@neciebooyaw]

How incredible he let go of what he was used to just a lit bit and discovered that he loved something better even more in a new way a different way. I’m so glad I’m hearing this so inspiring

[@BillyBassBen]

Just to hear him is amazing and brings a smile to my face. This man is made my favorite jazz album bags and trane.

[@brycestpeter]

It's amazing to hear Coltrane talking after having recorded on Kind of Blue, Giant Steps, and so many other masterpieces. That's the voice of a man that truly evolved music and jazz forever for the better.

[@therenaissance1613]

Totally not what I expected his voice to sound like. Genius Coltraine.

[@RayfieldA]

I'd never heard Mr. Coltrane's voice before! Thank you for this!

[@wesleywalker1594]

I really enjoyed this video , thank you! Coltrane is a cultural and spiritual Idol of mine. He died three days before my 11th birthday. I remember hearing the news on the radio the afternoon he died. It saddened me as his music was part of the soundtrack of my short life up till then. His music is always will be an expression of what he was as a human being and it resonates with the essence of what we all are as human beings. that is our spiritual essence. I didn't know he had met Malcom. I wonder if it was sometime in mid to late '64.

[@zetton3711]

What a truly, truly beautiful man and words.

[@forbesartworks5427]

This was done so great wow long live Coltrane spiritual jazz MAESTRO

[@maidenful]

“the whole of human experience at that particular time is being expressed.” god damn.

[@casbont]

He starts out sounding like some average country dude from North Carolina, ends up dropping some sage master wisdom!!

[@say-cred]

yep, that accent surprised me too! Very rural sounding.

[@anwyllonmusic]

1966...one year before he passed on. Coltrane has impacted Jazz forever, that is a powerful force for good. Well done, Mr. Coltrane!

[@JiveDadson]

I can sympathize. About three years ago, my favorite tenor was stolen out of my kitchen. I had put many hours into refurbishing and overhauling it. It was an old Yamaha 23 that I bought for $500. I had it running better than my Mark VI. But the real tragedy was the loss of the mouthpiece that was in the case. It was a Morgan 6M that Ralph Morgan hand-finished himself. It was very special. A famous mouthpiece refinisher and I once spent a day trying to reproduce it, without success. I still mourn for it.

[@frafilipo9829]

Wow. Awesome!!! Thanks for this video. Coltrane is one of my lifetime inspiration.

[@jazzlives]

Nice effort, and thanks for posting. Coltrane to me is one of the greatest musical and spiritual thinkers of the 20th Century. He wasn't overly verbal, he was kind of awkward sounding, but I think that has nothing to do with his art or his music. He was a highly, highly introspective person, and he probably knew that words cannot easily approach his emotional and spiritual location.

[@tinastamatakis8442]

That was so beautufully stated. Thank you for your insite.

[@Khayyam-vg9fw]

He was a musician, par excellence, but he was certainly not inarticulate when it came to expressing himself verbally.

[@Perivale]

@gabe "Awkward sounding" is a bit strong. I quicker say what we hear from John Coltrane is typical southern vernacular. Anyways, let's just appreciate that this interview is out there which helps us understand this talented man.

[@kimariokiji]

@@Perivale I agree. What I am hearing is a person who thinks before he speaks. A thoughtful deeply intelligent and intuitive person who is aware of the political controversy (Malcolm X questions) and the nuances of his words.

[@resuscitationpicture]

Thank you so much

[@melagente]

I Am So Happy to Have Found Blank on Blank! What A Blessing! What A Joy! Thank You So Much! Peace!

[@Yallegopapi]

Loved this video, but nothing about "Giant Steps"

[@BlankonblankOrg]

Fernando Zamora We're using the title of this famous album to highlight the steps he was taking philosophically and as a musician at this time in his life.

[@questionman5]

Blank on Blank Come on, you had to know people would click for Giant Steps. I get the wordplay and figurative aspect, but that's such a literal-sounding title. I was waiting the whole video for him to talk about Giant Steps, even just a sentence. Nothing.

[@chrisseymour5795]

It's called click bait.

[@Marie-qv6on]

Blank on Blank L

[@theneohippie8927]

Blank on Blank y’all took a fat L on this one

[@ChuloDavidcito]

Thank you! I've listened to John for years, and even transcribed some of his solo work, but I never heard his speaking voice! Thanks to you, I was able to enjoy that.

[@moohapple12]

Absolutely amazing. The whole interview is great, and it really gives a lot of understanding into Coltrane and his approach. What a beautiful mind.

[@marike1100]

The part about his mouthpiece is interesting. Coltrane had a beautiful Florida Otto Link tenor mouthpiece that he played on all those famous albums like Blue Train, Giant Steps, Coltrane Jazz, et al. So at some point he gave to a mouthpiece specialist to work on, and it was never the same. He still couldn't help but sound like the best saxophonist in the world after the mouthpiece was worked on, but there is a noticeable change in his tenor sound on the early to mid-1960s albums on. Of course, Trane was too classy to name the poor repairman who screwed up his Otto Link. So saxophone players beware: if you have a good mouthpiece, don't mess with it.

[@carlosthecat]

+Markus Arike It's always a high risk to have a piece worked on. I'm had several made un-playable by some of the most reputable refacers out there. It's all educated trial and error, but the error is usually permanent.

[@cristiancharlothemolinabel4723]

Gracias por los subtítulos, excelente material, siempre los veo! Muchas gracias, una vez más!

[@centralscrutinizer66]

Great! true artiste we lost way too soon.

[@metallothionein9]

This is priceless. THANK YOU!!!

[@G4L4CTICR4DIO]

I watched a six hour documentary in 2018 on Jazz and it changed my life. I had always like hearing Jazz but I didn’t understand how anyone could listen to it for hours. I know why now lol. I can’t believe I’ve never heard John speak until tonight 😢 this video is priceless

[@AlejandroElOyentePropio]

This is truly beatiful. Really thanks for this.

[@theodorepullins3124]

AWESOME HEARING THE LEGEND VOICE

[@RyanConnop]

I can't like your guys' stuff enough. It's amazing. Pleeeeeeease don't stop!

[@Quantumlogik]

excellent video, listening to coltrane is so insightful

[@tao_2015]

I love it, greetings from Chile 🇨🇱

[@Nick-qf7vt]

0:33 I like how they made the record label look like the Blue Note label. Nice attention to detail!

[@eyeballsushi]

beautiful! I love Coltrane!

[@alfafender]

Wonderful.

[@eugenecoln6118]

How am I just now finding this?!?!? Awesome.

[@ArtBusker]

Esto es buenísimo !!!!! Buen trabajo ! Celebro que haya gente así !

[@plootyluvsturtle9843]

interesting hearing his voice. My image of him was so intertwined with his music, more so than almost every other artist i can think of

[@thomdotexe]

big ups the dude who added captions, for Europeans this is hard to understand without.

[@Lrpjazz]

Great job! By the way the date of the interview was August 18, 1966. Lewis Porter

[@thdgcfx]

I love all of your videos, thank you blank on blank :) Keep up the good work!!

[@brianpite0893]

I am very familiar with this interview. It was so nice to see it matched with the animation! Thanks Saint John was the greatest

[@GlendonGross]

I thought the animations were cute. And of course, Coltrane is always insightful.

[@cactaceous]

What a household that must have been. His wife Alice made some of my favorite albums ever.

[@NeonRadarMusic]

His whole vibe going by his voice and music reminds me of Jimi Hendrix: An otherworldly musical genius with a short career and life but also unexpectedly down to earth while speaking to interviewers.

[@claudineisilva1997]

Gennius!

[@n0denz]

And here, I thought this was gonna be him talking about how tough it is to play Giant Steps.

[@bandicoot5412]

What rare treat, thank you.

[@hughmalcolm-y7o]

Wasn't it amazing to hear the great man talk.

[@nykballaz]

I can only imagine a conversation between Malcolm and Coltrane

[@purpleraindrip1674]

Love the art on this video. Absolutely great shapes.

[@clarkewi]

Amazing conversation.

[@destroytheangels]

As soon as I understood where this was going I subbed. Very good content. Thank you for this

[@bigcountryspoundcake4513]

I love how they show the pictures after.

[@remidardenne6989]

Wow ♥️ And that's free ! Man, youtube as really some awesome points !

[@imayhaveanunbelievablysmal7406]

*More accurate title* “John Coltrane Not Talking About Giant Steps”

[@DefenestrateYourself]

Fuck Itoff it’s figurative, silly goose.

[@samharradence5689]

This may have been a year ago but it's not a title to be taken literally. It refers to the musical 'steps' he took as a musician. Be grateful we even have this.

[@a-ramenartist9734]

thats awesome

[@believeinyourdreams4691]

JOHN COLTRANE 👑

[@Miss.6ixEdits]

when he got discouraged from playing after ruining his mouthpiece, really speaks to me for some reason. something about those small, familiar pieces of an instrument or art that gets so personal after so much use.

[@drewhunkins7192]

This really is very, very well done. Tremendous.

[@DocJamesH]

Amazing channel. Real talent accumulates with time, and I see it took me two years to sub to you.

[@Pesoajoaquin]

Man !! I love this video, it's very great

[@prangmasterflash5590]

the intro is probably my favorite song

[@rh8522]

+Callum Moore I've been listening to that song so much recently... Can't shake it from my head.

[@MaaartenMusic]

+Callum Moore in a sentimental mood

[@prangmasterflash5590]

+MaaartenMusic the Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald versions i enjoy too

[@MexicanChaplin]

love your segment

[@BlankonblankOrg]

***** thank you

[@michelelmalem9113]

thank you !!!!!!!

[@tonymirabal8832]

I just stumbled on to this series wow!

[@Rob_-dv6ei]

It turned out that the room built above the garage was where he stayed for very long periods of time to make his music. His wife said she found it funny when he would pop downstairs every now and then to get food, then disappear back up into the room!

[@bjorliin]

Cool video, thanks for the work

[@laudicea00]

Amazing!

[@thejustineaster]

I heard nothing about giant steps. Not a good title for this video, very misleading

[@BlankonblankOrg]

The title is not literal. It's figurative about his development musically and spiritually. Regardless we hope you enjoyed it.

[@sullyb23511]

+justin I agree. However, I still enjoyed the video.

[@mrp6850]

I doubt that they understand the musical significance of Giant Steps.

[@mrp6850]

We all know that he probably derived it from Miss Jones. What's significant is that the vast majority of Jazz compositions up to that point were based on the same chord progressions and cadences. The fact that he was able to use it as the basis for a composition as well as reworking other compositions and ultimately using it in his superimposed modal lines qualifies it as significant.

[@ludwigbooth4882]

You just got to hear John Coltrane's voice from across time at the click of a button. Shut up, you little cry-baby. Be thankful you're alive to have even ever heard any music at all.

[@udomatthiasdrums5322]

love it!!

[@yaeeshmuhammad4862]

I love this

[@zappandy]

Great interview, thank you for this Blank on Blank and superb animation as usual. You guys really never disappoint.

[@bigpesa6166]

PBS the super O.G's...changed the game and still playin

[@johnrobinsoniii4028]

I own the entire interview on cassette tape--including a rare radio interview at a concert in Europe.

[@tinastamatakis8442]

POST IT!

[@PaulLivingstoneRagaJazz]

direct confirmation of St Will I Am John C as a human being of high spiritual intention!

[@Azman.]

Maestro Trane ever!!

[@JudgeDredd_]

The neck on my reference 36 got bent (by the fricken case that came with it) and I had it repaired. The guy said he could only get it back to 80% accuracy. Messed me up. Didn’t have $300 for a new neck. Don’t have the horn anymore. I need it back.

[@Baxxbier]

For me it's like listening to the voice of Jesus

[@Nayradharma]

ANIMATIONS AND JAZZ HOW DID I JUST FIND THIS WHY HADNT I FOUND THIS CHANNEL SOONER

[@stevemartin4249]

I grew up in North Carolina, and took a drive down to the little town of Hamlet, where he was born. But I don't remember seeing any indication the town recognized his impact on world music.

[@iam01]

Wow I don't think I've ever heard his talk

[@greenman9123]

Anytime I feel lazy on my instrument I watch this