Secret Love with Coltrane (Giant Steps) Changes

Randy Johnston shows you how to superimpose the Coltrane "Giant Steps" changes over the standard "Secret Love" — an approach he recorded on his album Somewhere in the Night — and gives you specific patterns and licks to play over these challenging changes.

Randy explains how each pattern and phrase was created, so you can build your own lines and apply the same substitution to any II-V-I in any standard. Some of the patterns come straight from Coltrane solos Randy transcribed, and he shares a story from his friend Curtis Fuller about hearing Coltrane practicing these very patterns in his apartment.

What's covered

• The Coltrane cycle explained step by step in Eb: up a minor third, down a fourth, repeated until you land back home (Ebmaj7–F#7–Bmaj7–D7–Gmaj7–Bb7–Eb)
• How to superimpose the cycle over any II-V-I that lasts four bars — in "Secret Love" and any other standard
• Analysis of the patterns used to create lines over these substitutions
• Two complete 4-bar phrases (licks) using these patterns, with explanations of how they were built
• The standard changes of "Secret Love" alongside the superimposed Coltrane changes in the written materials

An advanced class for improvisers ready to add this distinctive sound to their repertoire — Randy recommends learning the tune's melody and regular changes first. Includes a PDF of the transcribed solo and techniques used. Running time: 36 minutes.