Dennis Sandole

Who was Dennis Sandole?

Dennis Sandole was an American virtuoso jazz guitarist, composer, and music educator from Philadelphia. He was John Coltrane's mentor from 1946 until the early 1950s, introducing him to theory beyond chords and scales and exposing him to the music of other cultures. Mr. Sandole taught advanced harmonic techniques that were applicable to any instrument, using exotic scales and creating his own. Sandole taught privately until the end of his life. His other students over half a century included saxophonists James Moody, Michael Brecker, Rob Brown, and Bobby Zankel; pianists Matthew Shipp and Sumi Tonooka; guitarists Jim Hall, Joe Diorio, Pat Martino, Jon Herington, Larry Hoffman, and Harry Leahey.

and other musicians such as Rufus Harley, Bob deVos and Frank Gerrard. Dennis Sandole recorded Modern Music From Philadelphia, with his brother, Adolph Sandole, which was released by Fantasy in 1956.