Giant Steps was Coltrane's first album as a leader for Atlantic Records

Atlantic Records released Giant Steps in 1960 — Coltrane’s first album as a leader for the label — and it remains one of the most daunting technical achievements in jazz. The title track’s rapid-fire chord changes (the famous “Coltrane changes”) became a rite of passage for aspiring jazz musicians. It’s the sound of an artist pushing harmonic language to its limits while barely breaking a sweat.