--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As much as I think John Coltrane belongs…" description: "\"As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both of whom defined improvising on the tenor s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herbie-mann-20773_coltrane_as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs_175392.jpg" --- # As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I… ![“As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both of whom defined improvising on the tenor sax, there would not have been the evolution of the craft by John Coltrane.” quote by Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herbie-mann-20773_coltrane_as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs_175392.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herbie-mann-20773_coltrane_as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs_175392.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herbie-mann-20773_coltrane_as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs_175392.jpg) > “As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both of whom defined improvising on the tenor sax, there would not have been the evolution of the craft by John Coltrane.” [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Acknowledging early pioneers is essential because they laid the groundwork that enabled later innovators to evolve the art. **In simple terms:** Early masters shape later breakthroughs. Key Takeaway Recognize and study foundational influences. Themes history influence evolution Mood respectful inspired Type educational reflective When to use this quote - music education - creative mentorship - artistic research Key Concepts jazz improvisation legacy Questions to Reflect On - Who are your artistic forebears? - How can you build on their ideas uniquely? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on predecessors may stifle originality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crafts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crafts/) [Evolution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evolution/) [Lester young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lester-young/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) [Tenors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tenors/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [My father was a jazz tenor sax player. He played in a lot of big bands. So I had that sound around me all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meshell-ndegeocello/my-father-was-a-jazz-tenor-sax-player-he-played-in-a-lot-of-big-bands/) [Meshell Ndegeocello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meshell-ndegeocello/) > [I have learned as much about writing about my people by listening to blues and jazz and spirituals as I have from reading novels.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gaines/i-have-learned-as-much-about-writing-about-my-people-by-listening-to-2/) [Ernest Gaines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-gaines/) > [I wanted my voice to be a tenor sax, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-plant/i-wanted-my-voice-to-be-a-tenor-sax-really/) [Robert Plant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-plant/) > [I used to play tenor sax in high school, man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-price/i-used-to-play-tenor-sax-in-high-school-man/) [Sean Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-price/) > [I play saxophone, I play tenor sax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-serkis/i-play-saxophone-i-play-tenor-sax/) [Andy Serkis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-serkis/) > [I made the tenor sax - there's nobody plays like me and I don't play like anybody else](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coleman-hawkins/i-made-the-tenor-sax-there-s-nobody-plays-like-me-and-i-don-t-play/) [Coleman Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coleman-hawkins/) > [I appreciate men like Ben Webster and Coleman Hawkins very much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stan-getz/i-appreciate-men-like-ben-webster-and-coleman-hawkins-very-much/) [Stan Getz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stan-getz/) > [A young tenor player was complaining to me that Coleman Hawkins made him nervous. Man, I told him Hawkins was supposed to make him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cannonball-adderley/a-young-tenor-player-was-complaining-to-me-that-coleman-hawkins-made/) [Cannonball Adderley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cannonball-adderley/) > [I don't believe that a lot of the things I hear on the air today are going to be played for as long a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-peterson/i-don-t-believe-that-a-lot-of-the-things-i-hear-on-the-air-today-are/) [Oscar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-peterson/) > [Chano Pozo created the role of the conga soloist in the modern band, somewhat th way Coleman Hawkins created the solo tenor sax.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-sublette/chano-pozo-created-the-role-of-the-conga-soloist-in-the-modern-band/) [Ned Sublette](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-sublette/) > [When I began listening to saxophones, I was first attracted to Coleman Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-mulligan/when-i-began-listening-to-saxophones-i-was-first-attracted-to-coleman/) [Gerry Mulligan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-mulligan/) > [When I heard Coleman Hawkins, I learned to play ballads](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-davis/when-i-heard-coleman-hawkins-i-learned-to-play-ballads/) [Miles Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-davis/) > [“Listen to this, Nimit. Follow Coleman Hawkins' improvised lines very carefully. He is using them to tell us something. Pay very close attention. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haruki-murakami/listen-to-this-nimit-follow-coleman-hawkins-improvised-lines-very/) [Haruki Murakami](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/haruki-murakami/) > [I'd been studying the microphone for a dozen years, and I suddenly saw what I'd been doing wrong. I'd been singing too loud. One…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-gaye/i-d-been-studying-the-microphone-for-a-dozen-years-and-i-suddenly-saw/) [Marvin Gaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-gaye/) > [ We were all influenced by Lester \[Young\]. Listen to the records that he made with \[Count\] Basie. Nobody's got what he's got. He's still… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoot-sims/we-were-all-influenced-by-lester-young-listen-to-the-records-that-he/) [Zoot Sims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoot-sims/) ## More by Herbie Mann > [Why do you have to retire at 65? Why can't you start at 70? You know, like wine. Why can't music be that way?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/why-do-you-have-to-retire-at-65-why-can-t-you-start-at-70-you-know/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [My ego is controlled enough that I don't have to be the focus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/my-ego-is-controlled-enough-that-i-don-t-have-to-be-the-focus/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [Think about it: Look at the strides of awareness and treatment and tests that women have had with breast cancer, that the gay community…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/think-about-it-look-at-the-strides-of-awareness-and-treatment-and/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [If you want to play somebody's music, you'd better go into his house.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/if-you-want-to-play-somebody-s-music-you-d-better-go-into-his-house/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [One of the advantages of not having a record contract is that you can make your own mistakes, you don't need somebody else to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/one-of-the-advantages-of-not-having-a-record-contract-is-that-you-can/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [For me Brazilian music is the perfect mix of melody and rhythm. It just bubbles rhythmically. If I had to pick just one music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/for-me-brazilian-music-is-the-perfect-mix-of-melody-and-rhythm-it/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [I always say, if you keep your head in the sand, you don't know where the kick's coming from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/i-always-say-if-you-keep-your-head-in-the-sand-you-don-t-know-where/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [Being stubborn has helped, being selfish is not a bad thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/being-stubborn-has-helped-being-selfish-is-not-a-bad-thing/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [By the time I'm 90, I hope to have it together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/by-the-time-i-m-90-i-hope-to-have-it-together/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [The music we're playing now is based on my heritage, which is Russian, Romanian and Hungarian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/the-music-we-re-playing-now-is-based-on-my-heritage-which-is-russian/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [I recently formed a foundation to raise awareness for prostate cancer. I feel it's very necessary that men be more aware about prostate cancer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/i-recently-formed-a-foundation-to-raise-awareness-for-prostate-cancer/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [You have to be concerned with yourself because if you're not on it all the time, nobody else is going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/you-have-to-be-concerned-with-yourself-because-if-you-re-not-on-it/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [To most jazz critics I was basically Kenny G.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/to-most-jazz-critics-i-was-basically-kenny-g/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [Music allows the great opportunity to play with people who turned you on and you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/music-allows-the-great-opportunity-to-play-with-people-who-turned-you/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) > [But when I first got cancer, after the initial shock and the fear and paranoia and crying and all that goes with cancer -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/but-when-i-first-got-cancer-after-the-initial-shock-and-the-fear-and/) [Herbie Mann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) [Explore all 30 Herbie Mann quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/) ## More Coltrane quotes > [I think we've all had enough of Coltrane saxophonists. There's a case of someone ruining a generation of saxophonists, as Louis Armstrong may have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bley/i-think-we-ve-all-had-enough-of-coltrane-saxophonists-there-s-a-case/) [Paul Bley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bley/) > [ John \[Coltrane\] was like a visitor to this planet. He came in peace and he left in peace; but during his time here, he… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ayler/john-coltrane-was-like-a-visitor-to-this-planet-he-came-in-peace-and/) [Albert Ayler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ayler/) > [I listened to King Oliver and I listened to Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Thelonious Monk, Charles Mingus, John Coltrane, Archie Shepp... I listened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/i-listened-to-king-oliver-and-i-listened-to-louis-armstrong-jelly/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [For me, musicians are poets. Beethoven describes himself as a poet of tones, just like Coltrane's a poet of tempo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cornel-west/for-me-musicians-are-poets-beethoven-describes-himself-as-a-poet-of/) [Cornel West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cornel-west/) > [My dad would play me all of these records: Miles Davis records, John Coltrane records, Bill Evans records, a lot of jazz records. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eldar-djangirov/my-dad-would-play-me-all-of-these-records-miles-davis-records-john/) [Eldar Djangirov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eldar-djangirov/) > [Find a beautiful piece of art. If you fall in love with Van Gogh or Matisse or John Oliver Killens, or if you fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/find-a-beautiful-piece-of-art-if-you-fall-in-love-with-van-gogh-or/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [I hear many extra-musical things somehow in Coltrane.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-konitz/i-hear-many-extra-musical-things-somehow-in-coltrane/) [Lee Konitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-konitz/) > [I love music/sounds that have a passion, a fire, an energy I can connect with. I love angry sounding beat tracks, dark sounds for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mick-harris/i-love-music-sounds-that-have-a-passion-a-fire-an-energy-i-can/) Mick Harris > [Listen to John Coltrane enough and after two bars, just two bars at any place, and you know that's him. We all have signature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cosby/listen-to-john-coltrane-enough-and-after-two-bars-just-two-bars-at/) [Bill Cosby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-cosby/) > [ In short, \[Coltrane's\] tone is beautiful because it is functional. In other words, it is always involved in saying something. You can't separate the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecil-taylor/in-short-coltrane-s-tone-is-beautiful-because-it-is-functional-in/) [Cecil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecil-taylor/) > [John Coltrane is still probably one of the greatest musicians of this century. His tone truly puts demons on a leash. His gift is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-santana/john-coltrane-is-still-probably-one-of-the-greatest-musicians-of-this/) [Carlos Santana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-santana/) > [When you're playing the part of a saxophone or a trumpet player, both of which I have done, it would be nice to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-rea/when-you-re-playing-the-part-of-a-saxophone-or-a-trumpet-player-both/) [Stephen Rea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-rea/) > [But you listen to Coltrane and that's something human, something that's about elevation. It's like making love to a woman. It's about something of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/but-you-listen-to-coltrane-and-that-s-something-human-something-that/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [Coltrane was moving out of jazz into something else. And certainly Miles Davis was doing the same thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-garbarek/coltrane-was-moving-out-of-jazz-into-something-else-and-certainly/) [Jan Garbarek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-garbarek/) > [Lately, Ive been listening to some jazz albums. I love the new Pat Metheny album. John Coltrane. I still like good metal, though!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geezer-butler/lately-ive-been-listening-to-some-jazz-albums-i-love-the-new-pat/) [Geezer Butler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geezer-butler/) Browse all 82 Coltrane quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both of whom defined improvising on the tenor sax, there would not have been the evolution of the craft by John Coltrane.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Herbie Mann" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs-on-the-list-i-think-without/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Coltrane" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs-on-the-list-i-think-without/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herbie-mann-20773_coltrane_as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs_175392.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herbie-mann-20773_coltrane_as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs_175392.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/de1/herbie-mann-20773_coltrane_as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs_175392.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As much as I think John Coltrane belongs on the list, I think without Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young, both…” — Herbie Mann", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Herbie Mann", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbie-mann/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "As much as I think John...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs-on-the-list-i-think-without/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbie-mann/as-much-as-i-think-john-coltrane-belongs-on-the-list-i-think-without/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```