Born in North Carolina in 1926, John Coltrane emerged on the jazz scene in the 1950s, playing tenor and soprano sax with Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk. A pioneer of “hard bop” in the 1960s, he led his own groups and reinvented jazz with his own brand of experimentation and improvisation. His later recordings reflected his belief that music was a form of spiritual expression. The 23rd Edition of Birdland's annual all-star birthday celebration of Jazz Icon and saxophone innovator John Coltrane featuring some of his best known compositions: Moment's Notice, Giant Steps, Like Sonny, Crescent, Mr. P.C., and more. With: Jimmy Greene, Wayne Escoffery (saxes) Helen Sung (piano) Lonnie Plaxico (bass) Billy Kilson (drums)