John Coltrane House | Philadelphia, PA

Located at 1511 N. 33rd Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the John Coltrane House was recently recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Tenor saxophonist and American jazz pioneer John Coltrane lived here from 1952 until two years before his death in 1967. A musician and composer, Coltrane played a central role in the development of jazz during the 1950s and 1960s. He took the American jazz tradition as it had developed by the late 1940s, with its established forms and harmonies, and radically transformed it, pioneering modal harmonies and incorporating influences from a variety of international sources. Along with Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker, Coltrane was one of the most influential performing soloists in the history of jazz.

Coltrane resided here during the critical years in which he developed his characteristic musical language. When Coltrane purchased this house in 1952, the neighborhood was in transition as many rural southern African Americans were relocating to northern cities and finding work opportunities in industrial neighborhoods such as this. Coltrane moved into the house with his mother, cousin and a friend; three years later they were joined by Coltrane’s bride Juanita Austin, known by her nickname Naima. Coltrane used this house both as a primary residence and a temporary base during his tours, while his mother and cousin lived here permanently. The family has occupied the house continually, and it is currently owned by his cousin. An adjacent house is used by the John Coltrane Cultural Society.

ABOUT JOHN COLTRANE

Born September 23, 1926 in Hamlet North Carolina. Died July 17, 1967 at Huntington Hospital in Long Island NY. Coltrane grew up in High Point NC, moving to Philadelphia PA in June 1943. He was inducted into the Navy in 1945, returning to civilian life in 1946. Coltrane worked a variety of jobs through the late forties until (still an alto saxophonist) he joined Dizzy Gillespie’s big band in 1949. He stayed with Gillespie through the band’s breakup in May 1950 and (now on tenor saxophone) worked with Gillespie’s small group until April 1951, when he returned to Philadelphia to go to school.

In early 1952 he joined Earl Bostic’s band, and in 1953 he joined Johnny Hodges’s small group (during that saxophonist’s short sabbatical from Duke Ellington’s orchestra), staying until mid 1954.

Although there are recordings of Coltrane from as early as 1946, his real career spans the twelve years between 1955 and 1967, during which time he reshaped modern jazz and influenced generations of other musicians. Coltrane was freelancing in Philadelphia in the summer of 1955 when he received a call from trumpeter Miles Davis. Davis, whose success during the late forties had been followed by several years of decline, was again active, and was about to form a quintet. Coltrane was with this first edition of the Davis group from October 1955 through April 1957 (with a few absences), a period which saw influential recordings from Davis and the first signs of Coltrane’s ability. This classic First Quintet, best represented by two marathon recording sessions for Prestige in 1956, disbanded in mid-April.

During the latter part of 1957 Coltrane worked with Thelonious Monk at New York’s Five Spot, a legendary gig. He rejoined Miles in January 1958, staying until April 1960, during which time he participated in such seminal Davis sessions as Milestones and Kind Of Blue, and recorded his own influential sessions (notably Giant Steps).

John Coltrane Home
Address: 1511 North 33rd Street, Philadelphia, PA
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