In short, [Coltrane's] tone is beautiful because it is functional. In other words, it is always involved in saying something. You can't separate the means that a man uses to say something from what he ultimately says. Technique is not separated from its content in a great artist.
"John Coltrane". Book by Bill Cole, 1976.
![In short, [Coltrane's] tone is beautiful because it is functional. In other words, it is always involved in saying something. You can't separate the means that a man uses to say something from what he ultimately says.](http://cdn.quoteddaily.com/images/cecil-taylor/in-short-coltranes-tone-is-beautiful-because-it-is-functional-in-other-words-it-is-always-involved-in-saying-something.jpg)