NAIMA - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“Naima” was composed by John Coltrane in 1959 and is named after his first wife, Juanita Naima Grubbs. The composition first appeared on Coltrane’s landmark album *Giant Steps* and is celebrated for its lyrical, meditative quality and innovative harmonic structure.

The recording features Coltrane on tenor saxophone with a quartet including McCoy Tyner, Paul Chambers, and Jimmy Cobb. The piece has been widely covered by jazz instrumentalists and vocalists, emphasizing its haunting melody and sophisticated chord changes. Harmonically, it uses a pedal point and modal shifts, creating a tranquil, contemplative atmosphere that showcases Coltrane’s emotive phrasing.