In his search for musical freedom, saxophonist John Coltrane pushed melody, rhythm, and harmony to their limits. He first emerged as a sideman with Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk in the '50s, but soon launched his own prolific but brief career as a bandleader. Known for his beautiful tone on blues and ballads, Coltrane developed an intense post-bop style that pushed him toward the avant-garde on landmark albums like 1960's Giant Steps and 1964's A Love Supreme. Coltrane died in 1967 at the age of 40, but he'd already become one of the most influential figures in post-war jazz.