Drawing it myself wouldn't be too hard and then I can tweak it myself and get the same style of look, if not better, so that is the way I will go. I do feel strongly about making some money with a series of new pieces that I will be doing. I may just contact the photographer or whoever, and ask for a useage fee to do like 500 prints or something.

That is what I use for all my jazz art. I'm Pretty much 100% positive it is ok that I look at photos to do those, especially considering the nature of the final pieces vs. the nature of the originals.

Regarding dsigns comment about using Coltrane's likeness. I went to the Coltrane site and it says that you must have their permission for using his likeness in film. Also for using the name "John Coltrane" in any sort of commercial application. In my other art, I just call him in the pieces "Trane" I suppose it won't be very hard to contact them about it, so I'll go ahead and do that.

Can someone copyright their likeness? There are many many many artists who have done images of Coltrane and sell for much $$$ do you think they've all asked permission/ pay royalties? Also, Most of them are doing very similar paint/drawing reproductions of existing photos of him and my art is less about the photo and more about the improvisation of color and pen strokes and interpretation of music in a visual form.