Today marks the 40th anniversary of John Coltrane's passing. Not only was he one of the greatest masters of the tenor saxophone, but he also changed the course of jazz & with it blazed a trail for other like-minded musicians to follow. At the same time, he helped write a new chapter for popular music as well:

If it weren't for Coltrane (among others), the very idea of jam bands would be out of the question-no Dead, no Phish, no Cream, no!! (In jam bands such as the ones whom I just mentioned, improvisation & musicianship were always a big deal.) But Coltrane helped make the birth of jamming possible in some way or other & for that we should be thankful. Likewise, without Trane, a whole chapter of popular music (& with it, a key period in the history of jazz) would remain incomplete & we would come to the point where looks are important & musicianship is irrelevant. Finally, without Trane, we wouldn't have musicians who have the same initiative, drive & commitment to keep growing and bettering themselves on their respective instruments. Believe it, John Coltrane always found ways to better himself & keep growing as a musician up to his sudden passing.

And today is the day to pay our honor & respects to one of jazz's most important trail-blazing musicians.