1959 in Jazz History with Gil Harel: Coltrane’s Giant Steps

Join Wilton Library for the third program of their new four-part series with Dr. Gil Harel on the seminal jazz albums of 1959.The series will run as follows:

3/20/24: Miles Davis’ Kind of Blue
4/10/24: Dave Brubeck’s Time Out
5/22/24: John Coltrane’s Giant Steps
6/18/24: Jazz Post-1959 Diverging Paths

The year 1959 was an exceptionally busy year for John Coltrane. Indeed, the iconic saxophone player and composer was featured prominently on Kind of Blue (the style of that record — modal jazz — would be one that Coltrane would revisit in subsequent years). Later in the year, he recorded an album that would become one of the most influential in the genre: Giant Steps. The name of the album proved apropos. The unprecedented chord progressions and improvisational patterns leap rose Coltrane’s status to that of a legend. Even today, multiple tracks on the record remain standard practice templates for aspiring saxophone players. Join Professor Harel in diving into this massively influential album’s history and score.

Harel (PhD, Brandeis University) is a musicologist and music theorist whose interests include styles ranging from the western classical repertoire to jazz. Currently, he is Full Professor of Music at CT State Naugatuck Valley, where he received the AFT “Merit Award for Exemplary Service to the College” for 6 consecutive years. At NVCC, Dr. Harel conducts the college chorale, a cappella ensemble, teaches music history and theory, and serves as musical director of theater productions.

Register online or call 203.762.6334.