Editing John Coltrane (section)

===1959–1961: Period with Atlantic Records===
At the end of this period, Coltrane recorded ''[[Giant Steps]]'' (1960), his <!-- album with Milt Jackson ("Bags & Trane") recorded first, but not issued until 1961. --> first released album as leader for [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] that contained only his compositions.<ref>{{cite book | last = Porter | first = Lewis | author-link = Lewis Porter | title = John Coltrane: His Life and Music | publisher = The University of Michigan Press | year = 1999 | pages=145 }}</ref> The album's title track is generally considered to have one of the most difficult chord progressions of any widely played jazz composition,<ref>{{cite book | last = Nisenson | first = Eric |title =Ascension: John Coltrane And His Quest | publisher =Da Capo | year =2009 | pages=171 }}</ref> eventually referred to as [[Coltrane changes]].<ref>{{cite book | last =Berkman | first =David | title =The Jazz Harmony Book | publisher = Sher Music | year = 2013 | pages=145 }}</ref> His development of these cycles led to further experimentation with improvised melody and harmony that he continued throughout his career.<ref>{{cite book | last = Ratliff | first = Ben | author-link = Ben Ratliff | title = Coltrane: The Story of a Sound | publisher = Farrar, Straus and Giroux | year = 2007 | pages=52–53 }}</ref>
{| border="0"  style="float:right; font-size:100%; color:black; width:130px;"
|
{{Listen|pos = right
 |filename = Giant Steps.ogg
 |title = 'Giant Steps'
 |description = One of Coltrane's most acclaimed recordings, "Giant Steps" features harmonic structures more complex than were used by most jazz musicians of the time.
}}
|}

Coltrane formed his first quartet for live performances in 1960 for an appearance at the Jazz Gallery in New York City.<ref>{{cite book | last = Porter | first = Lewis | author-link = Lewis Porter | title = John Coltrane: His Life and Music | publisher = The University of Michigan Press | year = 1999 | pages=173–178 }}</ref> After moving through different personnel, including [[Steve Kuhn]], [[Pete La Roca]], and [[Billy Higgins]], he kept pianist [[McCoy Tyner]], bassist [[Steve Davis (bassist)|Steve Davis]], and drummer [[Elvin Jones]].<ref>{{cite book | last = Porter | first = Lewis | author-link = Lewis Porter | title = John Coltrane: His Life and Music | publisher = The University of Michigan Press | year = 1999 | pages=178–180 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Ratliff | first = Ben | author-link = Ben Ratliff | title = Coltrane: The Story of a Sound | publisher = Farrar, Straus and Giroux | year = 2007 | pages=57–59 }}</ref> Tyner, a native of Philadelphia, had been a friend of Coltrane for some years, and the two men had an understanding that Tyner would join the band when he felt ready.<ref>{{cite book | last = Porter | first = Lewis | author-link = Lewis Porter | title = John Coltrane: His Life and Music | publisher = The University of Michigan Press | year = 1999 | pages=177 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Ratliff | first = Ben | author-link = Ben Ratliff | title = Coltrane: The Story of a Sound | publisher = Farrar, Straus and Giroux | year = 2007 | pages=58 }}</ref> ''[[My Favorite Things (John Coltrane album)|My Favorite Things]]'' (1961) was the first album recorded by this band.<ref>{{cite book | last = Porter | first = Lewis | author-link = Lewis Porter | title = John Coltrane: His Life and Music | publisher = The University of Michigan Press | year = 1999 | pages=180 }}</ref> It was Coltrane's first album on [[soprano saxophone]],<ref>{{cite book | last = Nisenson | first = Eric |title =Ascension: John Coltrane And His Quest | publisher =Da Capo | year =2009 | pages=212–213 }}</ref> which he began practicing while with Miles Davis.<ref>{{cite book | last = Porter | first = Lewis | author-link = Lewis Porter | title = John Coltrane: His Life and Music | publisher = The University of Michigan Press | year = 1999 | pages=180–182 }}</ref> It was considered an unconventional move because the instrument was more associated with earlier jazz.<ref>{{cite book | last = Porter | first = Lewis | author-link = Lewis Porter | title = John Coltrane: His Life and Music | publisher = The University of Michigan Press | year = 1999 | pages=181 }}</ref>