John Coltrane was probably the most influential jazz musician since Charlie Parker, so great was his authority in the fields of harmony, melody and form, yet only a few fellow saxophonists, like Wayne Shorter, succeeded in assimilating his teachings, while there were many who lacked the resource and talent to do little more than try and copy him. The recordings collected here show Coltrane's meteoric rise to stardom, earning the recognition of all his peers; his ascension forces admiration and leaves every listener wanting to hear more.