GEORGE COLEMAN
Genres: Hard Bop, Post Bop • United States

A masterful improviser with an ear for both blues-informed lyricism and adventurous harmonics, saxophonist, composer, arranger, and educator George Coleman is one of the most respected musicians to emerge out of the hard bop era. A Memphis native known for his adept speed and big, warm tone, Coleman first came to prominence playing with drummer Max Roach's quintet. Later, he achieved fame as a member of Miles Davis' quintet in the early '60s. After ceding his place in Davis' group to Wayne Shorter, Coleman carved out his own distinctive place in the jazz pantheon, and as a bandleader in his own right. Albums like 1978's Amsterdam After Dark, 2000's Danger High Voltage, 2016's A Master Speaks, 2019's The Quartet, and 2023's Live at Smalls Jazz Club all reached the epitome of hard-swinging acoustic jazz. The George Coleman Quintet in Baltimore, from 1971, appeared in 2023. Born in Memphis, Tennessee, read more...