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Bill Coleman (trumpeter)

William Johnson Coleman (August 4, 1904 in Paris, Kentucky, United States – August 24, 1981 in Toulouse, France)[1] was an American jazz trumpeter.

Bill Coleman
Bill Coleman at Cafe Society, between 1946 and 1948. Photo: William P. Gottlieb.
Background information
Birth nameWilliam Johnson Coleman
Born(1904-08-04)August 4, 1904
Paris, Kentucky, United States
DiedAugust 24, 1981(1981-08-24) (aged 77)
Toulouse, France
GenresJazz
Occupation(s)Musician
Instrument(s)Trumpet
Years active1927–1981

Early life edit

In 1909, Coleman's family moved from Kentucky to Cincinnati. His first musical explorations were on clarinet and C melody saxophone, but he eventually settled on trumpet.[1] As a young man he worked as a messenger for the Western Union telegraph company. He studied with Cincinnati trumpeter Theodore Carpenter, and played in an amateur band led by trombonist J.C. Higginbotham.

Career edit

Coleman began professional work in Cincinnati with bands led by Clarence Paige and Wesley Helvey (both bands his teacher Carpenter worked in) then with Lloyd and Cecil Scott. In December 1927, he traveled with the Scott brothers to New York City, and continued to work with them until the late summer of 1929, when he joined the orchestra of pianist Luis Russell.[1] His first recording session was with Russell on September 6, 1929, and he soloed on the tune "Feelin' the Spirit". By December 1929, he had left Russell (partly due to the majority of the solo work going to section mate Henry "Red" Allen), but re-joined the band on two more occasions during 1931–32.[2]

He rejoined the Scott brothers (then known as Cecil Scott's Bright Boys) in late 1929,[1] participating in a Victor recording session, and continued to work with them through the early part of 1930. He worked with various New York based bands until rejoining Luis Russell in 1931.[2]

His first trip to Europe was with the band of Lucky Millinder from June until October 1933, after which he returned to New York to work with bandleaders Benny Carter and Teddy Hill, whom he recorded with in early 1935.[1] While with the Hill band he participated in a freelance recording session with pianist Fats Waller, waxing a number of sides.[2]

Coleman returned to Cincinnati briefly in the summer of 1935, then headed to Europe, playing a residency in Paris with entertainer/vocalist Freddy Taylor (whom he had worked with in the Lucky Millinder band).[1] While in Paris, he recorded with guitarist Django Reinhardt and made several freelance sessions under his own name. In late 1936. he traveled to Bombay, India, playing with Leon Abbey's Orchestra,[3] then back to Paris in April 1937, joining the band led by American-born saxophonist William T. Lewis (the band known as Willie Lewis and his Entertainers).[2]

After a sojourn to Cairo, Egypt, Coleman returned to the U.S. in March 1940, and worked throughout the 1940s with a variety of top groups including bands led by Benny Carter (1940), Teddy Wilson (1940–41), Andy Kirk (1941–42), Ellis Larkins (1943), Mary Lou Williams (1944), John Kirby (1945), Sy Oliver (1946–47), and Billy Kyle (1947–48).[1] During this same time, Coleman participated in many recording sessions with top jazz stars such as Lester Young, Billie Holiday and Coleman Hawkins.[2]

He returned to France in 1948 and spent the rest of his life there,[1] in part due to wishing to avoid racial segregation.[4] Like many American musicians, he felt he received the recognition he deserved from European audiences, and during the decades he lived in France he traveled and performed in clubs and concert venues all over Europe.[1] In 1978, he performed at the first Jazz in Marciac festival (along with tenor saxophonist Guy Lafitte), later becoming an honorary president of the festival organization.

In 1974, he received the Ordre National du Mérite.[4] His autobiography, called Trumpet Story and translated into French by his wife, Lily, was published in 1981 (Cana éditions). The English version was published in 1989 by Palgrave-Macmillan, UK. Another version, including many original photographs, was published by Mémoires d'Oc éditions in 2004, and entitled De Paris (Kentucky) à Paris (France), ma trompette sous le bras (From Paris (Kentucky) to Paris (France), with my trumpet under my arm).

Playing style edit

From his first solo on record with the Luis Russell Orchestra, Coleman's playing exhibited a lighter sound more akin to Jabbo Smith than Louis Armstrong, yet his phrasing is more in the Armstrong vein than that of Smith. In many respects his playing was stylistically related to the playing by other swing era trumpeters such as Roy Eldridge and Buck Clayton.

Discography edit

  • From Boogie to Funk (Brunswick, 1960)
  • Jazz Pour Dieu (Unidisc, 1966)
  • Sings and Plays 12 Negro Spirituals (Concert Hall, 1968)
  • Together at Last (Pathe, 1969)
  • Three Generation Jam (77 Records, 1969)
  • Bill and the Boys (Concert Hall, 1972)
  • Swingin' in London (Black Lion, 1972)
  • Bill Coleman in Milan with Lino Patruno and Friends (Durium, 1973)
  • Mainstream at Montreux (Black Lion, 1973)
  • Cave's Blues (Jazzmosphere 1979)
  • Really I Do (Black & Blue, 1982)
  • Swinging in Switzerland (Black and Blue, 1983)
  • Blowing for the Cats (DRG, 1980)
  • In Paris (Affinity 1991)
  • The Complete Philips Recordings (Gitanes/Universal, 2006)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 96. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ a b c d e Chilton, John (1970) Who's Who of Jazz: Storyville to Swing Street. Storyville Publications. ISBN 978-0-9501290-0-6.
  3. ^ Shope, Bradley (2016). American Popular Music in Britain's Raj. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press. p. 68. ISBN 9781580465489.
  4. ^ a b "Bill Coleman, Jazz Trumpeter With Top Bands, Dead at 77". The New York Times. August 26, 1981.

External links edit

  • All Music

bill, coleman, trumpeter, other, people, with, same, name, william, coleman, disambiguation, william, johnson, coleman, august, 1904, paris, kentucky, united, states, august, 1981, toulouse, france, american, jazz, trumpeter, bill, colemanbill, coleman, cafe, . For other people with the same name see William Coleman disambiguation William Johnson Coleman August 4 1904 in Paris Kentucky United States August 24 1981 in Toulouse France 1 was an American jazz trumpeter Bill ColemanBill Coleman at Cafe Society between 1946 and 1948 Photo William P Gottlieb Background informationBirth nameWilliam Johnson ColemanBorn 1904 08 04 August 4 1904Paris Kentucky United StatesDiedAugust 24 1981 1981 08 24 aged 77 Toulouse FranceGenresJazzOccupation s MusicianInstrument s TrumpetYears active1927 1981 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Playing style 4 Discography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life editIn 1909 Coleman s family moved from Kentucky to Cincinnati His first musical explorations were on clarinet and C melody saxophone but he eventually settled on trumpet 1 As a young man he worked as a messenger for the Western Union telegraph company He studied with Cincinnati trumpeter Theodore Carpenter and played in an amateur band led by trombonist J C Higginbotham Career editColeman began professional work in Cincinnati with bands led by Clarence Paige and Wesley Helvey both bands his teacher Carpenter worked in then with Lloyd and Cecil Scott In December 1927 he traveled with the Scott brothers to New York City and continued to work with them until the late summer of 1929 when he joined the orchestra of pianist Luis Russell 1 His first recording session was with Russell on September 6 1929 and he soloed on the tune Feelin the Spirit By December 1929 he had left Russell partly due to the majority of the solo work going to section mate Henry Red Allen but re joined the band on two more occasions during 1931 32 2 He rejoined the Scott brothers then known as Cecil Scott s Bright Boys in late 1929 1 participating in a Victor recording session and continued to work with them through the early part of 1930 He worked with various New York based bands until rejoining Luis Russell in 1931 2 His first trip to Europe was with the band of Lucky Millinder from June until October 1933 after which he returned to New York to work with bandleaders Benny Carter and Teddy Hill whom he recorded with in early 1935 1 While with the Hill band he participated in a freelance recording session with pianist Fats Waller waxing a number of sides 2 Coleman returned to Cincinnati briefly in the summer of 1935 then headed to Europe playing a residency in Paris with entertainer vocalist Freddy Taylor whom he had worked with in the Lucky Millinder band 1 While in Paris he recorded with guitarist Django Reinhardt and made several freelance sessions under his own name In late 1936 he traveled to Bombay India playing with Leon Abbey s Orchestra 3 then back to Paris in April 1937 joining the band led by American born saxophonist William T Lewis the band known as Willie Lewis and his Entertainers 2 After a sojourn to Cairo Egypt Coleman returned to the U S in March 1940 and worked throughout the 1940s with a variety of top groups including bands led by Benny Carter 1940 Teddy Wilson 1940 41 Andy Kirk 1941 42 Ellis Larkins 1943 Mary Lou Williams 1944 John Kirby 1945 Sy Oliver 1946 47 and Billy Kyle 1947 48 1 During this same time Coleman participated in many recording sessions with top jazz stars such as Lester Young Billie Holiday and Coleman Hawkins 2 He returned to France in 1948 and spent the rest of his life there 1 in part due to wishing to avoid racial segregation 4 Like many American musicians he felt he received the recognition he deserved from European audiences and during the decades he lived in France he traveled and performed in clubs and concert venues all over Europe 1 In 1978 he performed at the first Jazz in Marciac festival along with tenor saxophonist Guy Lafitte later becoming an honorary president of the festival organization In 1974 he received the Ordre National du Merite 4 His autobiography called Trumpet Story and translated into French by his wife Lily was published in 1981 Cana editions The English version was published in 1989 by Palgrave Macmillan UK Another version including many original photographs was published by Memoires d Oc editions in 2004 and entitled De Paris Kentucky a Paris France ma trompette sous le bras From Paris Kentucky to Paris France with my trumpet under my arm Playing style editFrom his first solo on record with the Luis Russell Orchestra Coleman s playing exhibited a lighter sound more akin to Jabbo Smith than Louis Armstrong yet his phrasing is more in the Armstrong vein than that of Smith In many respects his playing was stylistically related to the playing by other swing era trumpeters such as Roy Eldridge and Buck Clayton Discography editFrom Boogie to Funk Brunswick 1960 Jazz Pour Dieu Unidisc 1966 Sings and Plays 12 Negro Spirituals Concert Hall 1968 Together at Last Pathe 1969 Three Generation Jam 77 Records 1969 Bill and the Boys Concert Hall 1972 Swingin in London Black Lion 1972 Bill Coleman in Milan with Lino Patruno and Friends Durium 1973 Mainstream at Montreux Black Lion 1973 Cave s Blues Jazzmosphere 1979 Really I Do Black amp Blue 1982 Swinging in Switzerland Black and Blue 1983 Blowing for the Cats DRG 1980 In Paris Affinity 1991 The Complete Philips Recordings Gitanes Universal 2006 References edit a b c d e f g h i Colin Larkin ed 1992 The Guinness Who s Who of Jazz First ed Guinness Publishing p 96 ISBN 0 85112 580 8 a b c d e Chilton John 1970 Who s Who of Jazz Storyville to Swing Street Storyville Publications ISBN 978 0 9501290 0 6 Shope Bradley 2016 American Popular Music in Britain s Raj Rochester NY University of Rochester Press p 68 ISBN 9781580465489 a b Bill Coleman Jazz Trumpeter With Top Bands Dead at 77 The New York Times August 26 1981 External links editAll Music Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bill Coleman trumpeter amp oldid 1135702632, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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