George Coleman

[Christiern]

Immortalized on CD by uh 'Solar Records'...

No -- first on this cd in 1988:

http://allmusic.com/album/sharp-edge-r159961

I know. Sadly for me, I did know. But I think that first one may have been rather more on the licensed side than the one that is now on sale...

Yes

[BFrank]

Also saw George a few times: in '79 at the Keystone Korner w/Hilton, Eddie Moore, Herbie Lewis. Again in '81 at the KK with the same band except Higgins instead of Moore. '87 at Bradley's with Hilton and Ray Drummond.

[bigtiny]

I saw Coleman in the mid-80's at Jonathan Swift's in Harvard Square with a one-off band.

Coleman, Kenny Barron, Buster Williams, and I think Louis Hayes on drums.

At one point, they were playing some burning ass tune with lots of changes. During his solo Coleman starting modulating around into

all sorts of keys (something he's known for) and Kenny Barron was just kind of laughing and shaking his head while trying to keep up.

It was pretty funny and keep up he did!

bigtiny

[Gheorghe]

At one point, they were playing some burning ass tune with lots of changes. During his solo Coleman starting modulating around into

all sorts of keys (something he's known for) and Kenny Barron was just kind of laughing and shaking his head while trying to keep up.

It was pretty funny and keep up he did!

bigtiny

Yeah, that´s the way how he did it. A topnotch musician, he had it all.

[Michael Weiss]

My first gig at Bradley's (1988) was a week with George Coleman and Bob Cranshaw on electric bass and.... no drums. Pressure? Noooo...

[BFrank]

My first gig at Bradley's (1988) was a week with George Coleman and Bob Cranshaw on electric bass and.... no drums. Pressure? Noooo...

THAT sounds intense!

[mikeweil]

I saw George Coleman live in the early 1980's with a European rhythm section - I only remember drummer Tony Inzalaco. Tom Nicholas, my first conga drum teacher, who had been playing with Coleman's octet in Philadelphia, was sitting in - nice grrove and all.

[Pete C]

For years the only Coleman I knew was with Miles, and I was very underwhelmed. Then I saw him some time in the '80s at Fat Tuesdays and he blew me away. He played tenor, soprano, and fabulous alto. How much has he recorded on alto? I saw him several times after and his mileage varied, but at the North Sea Festival in 2000 (w/ John Hicks) I remember a particularly gripping ballad performance, but I forget the tune. I caught him with Michael and Louis Hayes and I think John Weber at Smoke a couple of years after that and I think he stuck to tenor.

[marcello]

Manhattan Panorama has at least one track where he plays alto, but his tenor on 'Soul Eyes" (Live at Yoshi's) is one for the ages.

[Pete C]

Tom, I just remembered that I saw the octet once at a free outdoor show in midtown Manhattan--you might have shot some photos of it. Maybe late '70s? I remember Harold Vick and Frank Strozier.

[marcello]

No, wasn't there but I heard the octet a couple of times.

That reminds me of drummer Keno Duke, who had led bands with Big George, Mabern, Stroizer, Julius Watkins and others, with 6 and 7 pieces. Maybe that inspired George.

Edited January 26, 2012 by marcello

[king ubu]

Coleman can be heard on alto on some early sessions (Lee Morgan, Max Roach), I think.

[Kevin Bresnahan]

George plays alto on a couple of tracks of "My Horns Of Plenty" too. Nice CD but the bass was recorded too closely. I hear whirring sounds as Ray Drummond slides his fingers up and down the strings. It drives me nutty sometimes.

[fasstrack]

I really like George Coleman's playing. I last saw him at the beginning of this year at the Jazz Standard in NYC. It was so sad. He had lost his chops. In fact the person that checked your reservations at the door had to grab his horn and come on stage to play with George. It reminded me of the last years of Freedie Hubbard and how he lost his chops on the trumpet. Has anyone seen him live in the past 5 to 6 months? I may go and see him at Birdland, but I don't want to see a prize fighter fight one too many fights.

Beautiful sound. I sure hope he doesn't lose that. It's one of the best. I also like his harmonic ideas. I don't always go for tenor players running chords and I think George does more than that. He's a thinker. Sometimes working things out somewhat is a viable approach. With that approach when one is inspired there are options. He was pretty inspired IMO on his solo on Dolphin Dance. Very well worth studying.

You also can tell a guy's good when he's exposed, and on the duet record he made with---I think---Tete Montelu (sp?) he's right out there and it holds up beautifully. I remember a wise statement by Eddie Harris in a radio interview. He said something like 'you wanna hear where a tenor player's really at? Pan down the rhythm section and see if you still can pat your foot to him.'

[JETman]

I really like George Coleman's playing. I last saw him at the beginning of this year at the Jazz Standard in NYC. It was so sad. He had lost his chops. In fact the person that checked your reservations at the door had to grab his horn and come on stage to play with George. It reminded me of the last years of Freedie Hubbard and how he lost his chops on the trumpet. Has anyone seen him live in the past 5 to 6 months? I may go and see him at Birdland, but I don't want to see a prize fighter fight one too many fights.

Beautiful sound. I sure hope he doesn't lose that. It's one of the best. I also like his harmonic ideas. I don't always go for tenor players running chords and I think George does more than that. He's a thinker. Sometimes working things out somewhat is a viable approach. With that approach when one is inspired there are options. He was pretty inspired IMO on his solo on Dolphin Dance. Very well worth studying.

You also can tell a guy's good when he's exposed, and on the duet record he made with---I think---Tete Montelu (sp?) he's right out there and it holds up beautifully. I remember a wise statement by Eddie Harris in a radio interview. He said something like 'you wanna hear where a tenor player's really at? Pan down the rhythm section and see if you still can pat your foot to him.'

The duet record, called "Convergence" (from 1990) is with the wonderful Richie Beirach.

[fasstrack]

I really like George Coleman's playing. I last saw him at the beginning of this year at the Jazz Standard in NYC. It was so sad. He had lost his chops. In fact the person that checked your reservations at the door had to grab his horn and come on stage to play with George. It reminded me of the last years of Freedie Hubbard and how he lost his chops on the trumpet. Has anyone seen him live in the past 5 to 6 months? I may go and see him at Birdland, but I don't want to see a prize fighter fight one too many fights.

Beautiful sound. I sure hope he doesn't lose that. It's one of the best. I also like his harmonic ideas. I don't always go for tenor players running chords and I think George does more than that. He's a thinker. Sometimes working things out somewhat is a viable approach. With that approach when one is inspired there are options. He was pretty inspired IMO on his solo on Dolphin Dance. Very well worth studying.

You also can tell a guy's good when he's exposed, and on the duet record he made with---I think---Tete Montelu (sp?) he's right out there and it holds up beautifully. I remember a wise statement by Eddie Harris in a radio interview. He said something like 'you wanna hear where a tenor player's really at? Pan down the rhythm section and see if you still can pat your foot to him.'

The duet record, called "Convergence" (from 1990) is with the wonderful Richie Beirach.

I never heard of that one before, and would like to hear it. But my addled brain does seem to recall a recording with Montelu.

[JETman]

http://allmusic.com/album/convergence-r182507

[king ubu]

I never heard of that one before, and would like to hear it. But my addled brain does seem to recall a recording with Montelu.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/meditation-r136801

As you can see, the proper spelling is Montoliu (and our own EKE BBB is the expert in all things Tete!)

[Hardbopjazz]

I really like George Coleman's playing. I last saw him at the beginning of this year at the Jazz Standard in NYC. It was so sad. He had lost his chops. In fact the person that checked your reservations at the door had to grab his horn and come on stage to play with George. It reminded me of the last years of Freedie Hubbard and how he lost his chops on the trumpet. Has anyone seen him live in the past 5 to 6 months? I may go and see him at Birdland, but I don't want to see a prize fighter fight one too many fights.

Beautiful sound. I sure hope he doesn't lose that. It's one of the best. I also like his harmonic ideas. I don't always go for tenor players running chords and I think George does more than that. He's a thinker. Sometimes working things out somewhat is a viable approach. With that approach when one is inspired there are options. He was pretty inspired IMO on his solo on Dolphin Dance. Very well worth studying.

You also can tell a guy's good when he's exposed, and on the duet record he made with---I think---Tete Montelu (sp?) he's right out there and it holds up beautifully. I remember a wise statement by Eddie Harris in a radio interview. He said something like 'you wanna hear where a tenor player's really at? Pan down the rhythm section and see if you still can pat your foot to him.'

The last two time I did see him, which was after the gig I first mentioned, he sounded great.

[fasstrack]

I never heard of that one before, and would like to hear it. But my addled brain does seem to recall a recording with Montelu.

http://www.allmusic.com/album/meditation-r136801

As you can see, the proper spelling is Montoliu (and our own EKE BBB is the expert in all things Tete!)

Thanks. My shrinking (unincredible) brain also thanks you.

[JSngry]

It was released back in the day on Muse, back in the day.

[ghost of miles]

Just ordered this today after reading Max Harrison's review of it in ESSENTIAL JAZZ RECORDS V. 2.

The version of "Soul Eyes" here is really fantastic!
If fact, everyone here is playing at his best:


George Coleman - At Yoshi's
08/01/1987
Evidence
Credits:

George Coleman - Sax (Tenor),
Harold Mabern - Piano
Ray Drummond - Bass
Alvin Queen - Drums

01 - They Say It's Wonderful
02 - Good Morning Heartache
03 - Laig Gobblin' Blues
04 - Io
05 - Up Jumped Spring
06 - Father
07 - Soul Eye

[sonnymax]

It was released back in the day on Muse, back in the day.

Actually, it was issued in 1977 on Timeless:

And then re-released on the Timeless/Muse label two years later:

A good album, for sure, but it pales in comparison to the aforementioned Convergence:

[Michael Weiss]

I'll be back up at Smoke with George next week, December 19-22, with Eric Alexander, John Webber and Joe Farnsworth.

Live at Smoke, October, 2019

[Gheorghe]

Listened to it yesterday again. Shortly after this I saw him live, most of the stuff from "Amsterdam". Fantastic !