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 on March 8, 1935, is a famous American jazz musician. He plays the saxophone. He is well-known for playing with jazz legends like Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s. In 2015, he received a special award called the NEA Jazz Master, which is a big honor in jazz music.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Start
George Coleman grew up in Memphis, Tennessee. When he was a teenager, he taught himself to play the alto saxophone. He was inspired by another great jazz musician named Charlie Parker. Some of his school friends also became famous jazz musicians, like Harold Mabern and Charles Lloyd.
Becoming a Jazz Star
George Coleman started his music career playing with blues legend B.B. King in 1953. At that time, he switched from alto saxophone to the tenor saxophone because King needed a tenor player in his band. King even bought him a new tenor saxophone!
In 1956, Coleman moved to Chicago. There, he played with other jazz greats like Gene Ammons and Johnny Griffin. Later, he joined Max Roach's band from 1958 to 1959. He also recorded with organist Jimmy Smith on the album House Party.
Coleman moved to New York City with Max Roach. He then played with Slide Hampton and Wild Bill Davis. In 1963, he joined Miles Davis's famous band.
Playing with Miles Davis
George Coleman played on several important albums with Miles Davis. These albums include Seven Steps to Heaven (1963), In Europe (1963), My Funny Valentine, and Four & More. These last two were recorded live at a concert in Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City in 1964.
After this concert, Coleman left the band. However, Miles Davis always spoke highly of Coleman's playing. He said that George played "almost perfectly" and was "a hell of a musician."
After playing with Miles Davis, Coleman continued to perform with many other jazz legends. These included Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Clark Terry, Horace Silver, Elvin Jones, Charles Mingus, and Ahmad Jamal.
Beyond Music: Movies and Awards
George Coleman also appeared in a few movies. He was in the science-fiction film Freejack (1992) and The Preacher's Wife (1996).
He continued to record music into the 2020s. In 2002, he released a CD called Four Generations of Miles: A Live Tribute To Miles. On this album, he played with Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, and Mike Stern. The album featured songs from Miles Davis's 1960s performances.
In 2015, George Coleman received two big 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.
As of 2024, George Coleman continues to perform and record music.
Family Life
George Coleman was married to jazz organist Gloria Coleman. They had two children, including their son, George Coleman Jr., who is also a jazz drummer. They later divorced.
Selected Music Albums
George Coleman has released many albums as a band leader and has also played on albums with other musicians.
As a Band Leader
- 1977 – Meditation
- 1978 – Amsterdam After Dark
- 1985 – Manhattan Panorama
- 1989 – At Yoshi's
- 1998 – I Could Write a Book: The Music of Richard Rodgers
- 2002 – Four Generations of Miles: A Live Tribute To Miles
- 2016 – A Master Speaks
- 2019 – The Quartet
- 2020 – The George Coleman Quintet in Baltimore
- 2023 – George Coleman Live at Smalls Jazz Club
- 2024 – Big George
Playing with Other Musicians
- With Chet Baker: Smokin' with the Chet Baker Quintet (1965)
- With Miles Davis: Seven Steps to Heaven (1963), My Funny Valentine (1964)
- With Herbie Hancock: Maiden Voyage (1965)
- With Elvin Jones: Live at the Village Vanguard (1968)
- With Lee Morgan: City Lights (1957)
- With Max Roach: Deeds, Not Words (1958)
- With Jimmy Smith: House Party (1957–58)
- With Cedar Walton: Eastern Rebellion (1975)
See also
In Spanish: George Coleman (músico) para niños
