Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

3. John ColtraneGiant Steps

That’s the early one. That’s just a very particular – I had that on CD, I would just listen to it on the plane a lot and really zone out. It’s got some really upbeat jams on there, there’s a real swing, but then there’s a song called ‘Naima’, which is named after his first wife. It’s just the most beautiful, saddest… I don’t think it’s sad, but it is minor. I would just listen to that record on repeat, it would really put me somewhere. I remember listening to it on the way to Phoenix, before I knew we were going to be laid over, and then on the way back.

Just Coltrane in general, he’s just the greatest one. In fact, I should say, there’s a song called ‘Dear Lord’ [from Transition], I burned that from a vinyl, and that is number one, the sweetest, most beautiful Coltrane song I’ve ever heard.

Selected in other Baker’s Dozens: Benjamin Myers, Teju Cole
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