(75) “Crescent” and Jimmy Garrison
Standard Rating 4 and Difficulty Rating 7
Bassist Jimmy Garrison was a key figure in 1960s jazz, best known for his work with John Coltrane’s classic quartet from 1962 to 1967. His firm tone, solid rhythm, and blues-inflected modal playing anchored the group, especially on landmark albums like A Love Supreme and Live at Birdland. Garrison’s innovative techniques, including extended unaccompanied solos, helped shape the quartet’s spiritual and modal sound. The 1964 track “Crescent” highlights the quartet’s exceptional interplay. It opens with Coltrane’s expressive tenor sax over Tyner’s delicate piano, supported by Garrison’s steady bass and Jones’s dynamic drumming. The simple, hymn-like melody unfolds over ii–V progressions enriched with altered chords and modal tensions, creating a contemplative atmosphere. The solo section features modal improvisation and unexpected harmonic shifts, foreshadowing the quartet’s later spiritual works. This piece exemplifies Garrison’s role as the group’s grounding force and Coltrane’s evolving compositional style, later echoed in Tyner’s solo piano rendition of “Crescent.”
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
True Crime Tonight
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.