Dennis Sandole (29 September 1913 — 30 September 2000) born Dionigi Sandoli, was an American jazz guitarist, composer, and music educator from Philadelphia.
[1][2][3] Sandole was John Coltrane's mentor from 1946 until the early 1950s, introducing him to music theory beyond chords and scales and exposing him to the music of other cultures.
Sandole taught advanced harmonic techniques that were applicable to any instrument, using exotic scales and creating his own.
His students included saxophonists James Moody, Benny Golson, Michael Brecker, Rob Brown and Bobby Zankel; trumpeter Art Farmer; pianists Matthew Shipp and Sumi Tonooka; guitarists Jim Hall, Joe Diorio, Pat Martino, Joe Federico, Kenneth Pyle, Tony DeCaprio, Irv Gordon, Jon Herington, Bob DeVos, Howard Alden, Larry Hoffman, and Harry Leahey[3][4] and other musicians such as Rufus Harley and Frank Gerrard.
[3][5] Sandole died on September 30, 2000, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.