John Coltrane

A virtuoso jazz tenor saxophonist, John Coltrane was one of the pantheon of jazz improvisers. During the 1960s, Coltrane abandoned be-bop, which made him famous, for open-ended improvisation influenced by African and Indian music. However, some critics believe that Coltrane would have returned to simpler forms of jazz had his career and life not been cut short by cancer. St. John's Church in San Francisco was founded in 1971 in honor of Coltrane. Coltrane is considered to be one of the most important jazz musicians in the history of music. His influence remains in the jazz world and even infiltrated the rock world.