George Coleman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Coleman
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The George Coleman Quintet, 2012
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | George Edward Coleman |
| Born | March 8, 1935 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, hard bop, post-bop |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Saxophone |
| Years active | 1950s–present |
| Labels | Evidence, Telarc, Theresa, Smoke Sessions |
| Associated acts | Jimmy Smith, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, B.B. King, Max Roach, Slide Hampton, Lionel Hampton, Ahmad Jamal, Joey DeFrancesco, Chet Baker |
George Edward Coleman (born March 8, 1935) is an American jazz musician. He is famous for playing the saxophone. George Coleman worked with legendary artists like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s. In 2015, he was honored as an NEA Jazz Master, which is a very special award for jazz musicians.
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Early Life and Musical Start
George Coleman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. When he was a teenager, his older brother, Lucian Adams, taught him how to play the alto saxophone. George was inspired by Charlie Parker, a famous jazz saxophonist. Many other jazz musicians of his time also looked up to Charlie Parker.
Some of George's school friends also became well-known musicians. These included Harold Mabern, Booker Little, Frank Strozier, Hank Crawford, and Charles Lloyd.
Becoming a Professional Musician
George Coleman started his professional music career working with Ray Charles. In 1953, he began playing with the blues legend B.B. King. Around this time, George switched from the alto saxophone to the tenor saxophone.
In 1956, George moved to Chicago with his friend Booker Little. There, he played with jazz greats like Gene Ammons and Johnny Griffin. Later, he joined Max Roach's quintet, a small jazz group, from 1958 to 1959. He also recorded with organist Jimmy Smith on his album House Party.
George moved to New York City with Max Roach. He then played with Slide Hampton from 1959 to 1962. He also performed with Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, and Wild Bill Davis.
Playing with Miles Davis
A big moment in George Coleman's career was joining Miles Davis's famous quintet from 1963 to 1964. This group included Herbie Hancock on piano, Ron Carter on bass, and Tony Williams on drums.
They recorded several important albums together. These include Seven Steps to Heaven (1963), In Europe (1963), My Funny Valentine, and Four & More. The last two were recorded live at a concert in Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.
Even after George left the band, Miles Davis spoke highly of his playing. He said that George "played everything almost perfectly" and was "a hell of a musician."
Other Collaborations
After his time with Miles Davis, George Coleman continued to play with many other famous musicians. He performed with Lionel Hampton from 1965 to 1966. He also played on Chet Baker's The Prestige Sessions in 1965.
His long list of collaborations includes Clark Terry, Horace Silver, Elvin Jones, Shirley Scott, Cedar Walton, Charles Mingus, and Ahmad Jamal.
Beyond Music: Film Appearances
George Coleman also appeared in a few movies! He was in the science-fiction film Freejack (1992), which starred Emilio Estevez, Mick Jagger, and Anthony Hopkins. He also appeared in The Preacher's Wife (1996), alongside Denzel Washington and Whitney Houston.
Later Recordings and Awards
George Coleman kept recording music well into the 2020s. In 2002, he released a CD called Four Generations of Miles: A Live Tribute To Miles. He co-led this album with bassist Ron Carter, drummer Jimmy Cobb, and guitarist Mike Stern. The album focused on the music Miles Davis played in the 1960s.
He was also featured on Joey DeFrancesco's 2006 album Organic Vibes. This album reached No. 17 on Billboard's Top Jazz Album Chart.
In 2015, George Coleman received two major honors. He was named an NEA Jazz Master and was inducted into the Memphis Music Hall of Fame. He also received a special brass note on the Beale Street Brass Notes Walk of Fame in Memphis.
George Coleman was married to jazz organist Gloria Coleman. They had two children, including George Coleman Jr., who is also a jazz drummer.
As of October 2024, George Coleman continues to actively perform and record music.
Discography Highlights
George Coleman has released many albums as a leader and has played on countless others as a sideman. Here are a few examples of his work:
As a Leader or Co-Leader
- Meditation (1977) – a duo album with pianist Tete Montoliu.
- Amsterdam After Dark (1978) – a quartet album.
- Manhattan Panorama (1985) – recorded live at the famous Village Vanguard club.
- A Master Speaks (2016) – a recent quartet album.
- The Quartet (2019) – another quartet recording.
As a Sideman (Playing with Others)
George Coleman has lent his saxophone talents to many other artists' albums, including:
- With Chet Baker on several "Smokin'" and "Groovin'" albums in 1965.
- With Miles Davis on classic albums like Seven Steps to Heaven and My Funny Valentine.
- With Herbie Hancock on the important album Maiden Voyage (1965).
- With Elvin Jones on albums like Live at the Village Vanguard (1968).
- With Jimmy Smith on House Party (1957–58).
- With Cedar Walton on Eastern Rebellion (1975).
Images for kids
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The George Coleman Quintet, 2012
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George Coleman playing in San Francisco, 1979
See also
In Spanish: George Coleman (músico) para niños
