Tommy Flanagan - piano
Paul Chambers - bass… Read Full Bio ↴John Coltrane - tenor sax
Tommy Flanagan - piano
Paul Chambers - bass
Art Taylor - drums
Written by John Coltrane
Recorded May 5, 1959 at Atlantic Studios, New York
Originally released on the album Giant Steps, Atlantic SD-1311, January 1960
Syeeda's Song Flute
John Coltrane Lyrics
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A few words, just to shed a little light on Naima
I want to talk briefly about Naima to give some insight into the song
Her name, Naima, was inspired by this woman of great beauty
The name Naima was actually inspired by a woman who was incredibly beautiful
And I had the pleasure of meeting her once, and she was really beautiful
I was fortunate enough to meet her in person and can confirm that she was truly stunning
Sometimes I feel like she's with me in spirit, or something
Occasionally, I have a sense that she is present with me in a spiritual sense
And this composition is sort of a welcoming for her return
This song is a way for me to welcome her back or to honor her memory
Hopefully, if there is a rebirth or a reincarnation
In the event of reincarnation or rebirth, perhaps she will come back into the world
Maybe she'll hear the song and say, 'Hey, I recognize that.'
If she does return, perhaps she will hear this song and feel a sense of familiarity or recognition
So, it's just sort of a dedication to her and her beauty
All in all, this song is a tribute to Naima and the beauty that she embodied
Contributed by Peyton O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
OcelotDAD
Most underrated jazz song of all time this should be a standard.
erik storm
thats so true .. thist shit is so cool!
Guilherme Fernandes
LOL don't be that ''I'm not mainstream, I just hear to underrated works of art'' guy. Come on dude, John Coltrane is hella known and appreciated (and ofc a song from the Giant Steps is no exception).
Ben Partridge
Trane is appreciated as the genius he is. This song, even from being on Giant Steps, is criminally underrated cause it's next to Giant Steps, Naima, Countdown (of which there's an alternate take that is way better than the one that got onto the album) and Mr PC. He makes the point that if this was on most other albums this would be much better known :P
Infection Tag
Every song in the album has to become a standard!
DREAMS NETWORK
It's in the Real Book Vol. 2
Michael Till
Such a fucking cool chord progression, those dominant chords a half step apart. No doubt inspired by his tenure in Monk's band.
Vlad Drac
can't seem to describe how smooth and cool this song seems to be i am amazed by the talent john coltrane had a truely wonderful tune
Marc Roig Cebrian
El sólo de coltrane es absolutamente genial
MrAlexdoesmovies
This composition is too groovy and fun 👌!