ther had moved, to continue his music studies at the Ornstein School and the Granoff Studios where he won several scholarships for performance and for composition, studying theory and scale-based improvisation (Cole 23-26).
ôColtrane unwittingly had landed in the perfect place to develop his art. Philadelphia nurtured a thriving jazz community in the 1940sö (Porter 35). His career as a professional musician began in Philadelphia when he got gigs with big bands, and his first professional appearance was in 1945 with the Jimmy Johnson Big Band where he played alto sax. His career was interrupted when he was drafted into the U.S. Navy, but his playing continued as clarinetist with the Navy band, the Melody Masters, in Hawaii where he was stationed. After his release from the Navy, he returned to Philadelphia to continue both his musical studies and performing. His career would expand from just a band musician, to bandleader, performer, composer and recording artist. Although he started playing the clarinet and alto saxophone, he added soprano sax and flute, and the instrument with which he made his mark, the tenor saxophone.
During what might be called ColtraneÆs apprenticeship period as a musician, he worked with Philadelphia bands led by Joe Webb, King Kolax, Eddie Vinson and Jimmy Health. It was Vinson who gave him the opportunity to first play tenor sax, the instrument with which he made his mark as a performer (John Coltrane û Notable Black American Men). With VinsonÆs group, Coltrane traveled to California, sitting in on a jam session with Charlie Parker. Back in Philadelphia, he played alto sax with Jimmy HeathÆs Band in 1948, and the following year, after a move to New York, Heath and Coltrane joined Dizzy GillespieÆs band, until 1950 when Gillespie gave up the big band in favor of a sextet. Coltrane still played with Gillespie once in a while. Playing with Gillespie, a leading creator of bebop, afforded Coltrane the...