John Coles (July 3, 1926 – December 21, 1997) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

trumpeter.

Early life

Coles was born in

Trenton, New Jersey Trenton is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County, New Jersey, Mercer County. It was the federal capital, capital of the United States from November 1 until D ...

, on July 3, 1926. He grew up in

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

and was self-taught on trumpet.

Later life and career

Coles spent his early career playing with R&B groups, including those of Eddie Vinson (1948–1951),

Bull Moose Jackson Benjamin Clarence "Bull Moose" Jackson (April 22, 1919 – July 31, 1989) Allmusic biography Accessed January 2008. was an American blues and rhythm-and-blues singer and saxophonist, who was most successful in the late 1940s. He is considered ...

(1952), and

Earl Bostic Eugene Earl Bostic (April25, 1913October28, 1965) was an American alto saxophonist. Bostic's recording career was diverse, his musical output encompassing jazz, swing music, swing, jump blues and the post-war American rhythm and blues style, whi ...

(1955–1956). He was with James Moody from 1956 to 1958, and played with

Gil Evans Ian Ernest Gilmore Evans (né Green; May 13, 1912 – March 20, 1988) was a Canadian Americans, Canadian–American jazz pianist, Music arranger, arranger, composer and bandleader. He is widely recognized as one of the greatest orchestrators i ...

's orchestra between 1958 and 1964, including for the album '' Out of the Cool''. After this, he spent time with

Charles Mingus Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz Double bass, upright bassist, composer, bandleader, pianist, and author. A major proponent of collective Musical improvisation, improvisation, he is considered one of ...

in his sextet, which also included Eric Dolphy,

Clifford Jordan Clifford Laconia Jordan (September 2, 1931 – March 27, 1993) was an American jazz tenor saxophone player and composer. Originally from Chicago, Jordan later moved to New York City, where he recorded extensively in addition to touring across ...

, Jaki Byard, and Dannie Richmond. Following this he played with

Herbie Hancock Herbert Jeffrey Hancock (born April 12, 1940) is an American jazz musician, bandleader, and composer. He started his career with trumpeter Donald Byrd's group. Hancock soon joined the Miles Davis Quintet, where he helped to redefine the role of ...

(1968–1969),

Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson (September 23, 1930 – June 10, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. He is regarded as one of the most iconic and influential musicians in history, and was often referred to by contemporaries as "The Gen ...

(1969–1971),

Duke Ellington Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American Jazz piano, jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous Big band, jazz orchestra from 1924 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D ...

(1971–1974),

Art Blakey Arthur Blakey (October 11, 1919 – October 16, 1990) was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. He was also known as Abdullah Ibn Buhaina after he converted to Islam for a short time in the late 1940s. Blakey made a name for himself in the 1 ...

(1976), Dameronia, Mingus Dynasty, and the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of

Thad Jones Thaddeus Joseph Jones (March 28, 1923 – August 20, 1986) was an American jazz trumpeter, composer and bandleader who has been called "one of the all-time greatest jazz trumpet soloists". Early life, family and education Thad Jones was born i ...

(1985–1986). In 1985, Coles settled in the

San Francisco Bay Area The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a List of regions of California, region of California surrounding and including San Francisco Bay, and anchored by the cities of Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, California, S ...

; he recorded with

Frank Morgan Francis Phillip Wuppermann (June 1, 1890 – September 18, 1949), known professionally as Frank Morgan, was an American character actor. He was best known for his appearances in films starting in the silent era in 1916, and then numerous sound ...

and Chico Freeman the following year. After his return to Philadelphia in 1989, he again worked with Morgan and was part of Gene Harris's Philip Morris Superband. In 1990, Coles recorded with Charles Earland and Buck Hill. Coles recorded as a leader several times over the course of his career. He died of cancer on December 21, 1997, in Philadelphia.

Discography

As leader

*''The Warm Sound'' (

Epic Epic commonly refers to: * Epic poetry, a long narrative poem celebrating heroic deeds and events significant to a culture or nation * Epic film, a genre of film defined by the spectacular presentation of human drama on a grandiose scale Epic(s) ...

, 1961) *'' Little Johnny C'' ( Blue Note, 1963) *'' Katumbo (Dance)'' ( Mainstream, 1971) *'' New Morning'' ( Criss Cross Jazz, 1982) *''

Two at the Top ''Two at the Top'' is an album by saxophonist/flautist Frank Wess and flugelhornist Johnny Coles, recorded and released on the Uptown Records (jazz), Uptown label in 1983. The original album was rereleased on CD in 2012 along with one additional ...

'' ( Uptown, 1983) with

Frank Wess Frank Wellington Wess (January 4, 1922 – October 30, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist and flutist. He was renowned for his extensive solo work; however, he was also remembered for his time playing with Count Basie, Count Basie's band duri ...

As sideman

With Geri Allen *'' Some Aspects of Water'' (Storyville, 1996) With Tina Brooks *'' The Waiting Game'' (Blue Note, 1961) With Ray Crawford * ''I Know Pres'' ka ''Smooth Groove''(Candid, 1961 971 With

*'' New Bottle Old Wine'' (World Pacific, 1958) *'' Great Jazz Standards'' (World Pacific, 1959) *'' Out of the Cool'' (Impulse!, 1960) *'' The Individualism of Gil Evans'' (Verve, 1964) *''

Blues in Orbit ''Blues in Orbit'' is an album by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington recorded for the Columbia label in 1959 and released in 1960.

'' (Enja, 1971) *'' Where Flamingos Fly'' (Artists House, 1971 981 *'' Bud and Bird'' (Electric Bird/King, 1986 987 *'' Farewell'' (Evidence, 1986 992 With

Booker Ervin Booker Telleferro Ervin II (October 31, 1930 – August 31, 1970) was an American tenor saxophone player. His tenor playing was characterised by a strong, tough sound and blues/gospel phrasing. He is remembered for his association with bassi ...

*'' Booker 'n' Brass'' (Pacific Jazz, 1967) With Astrud Gilberto *'' Look to the Rainbow'' (Verve, 1966) With

Grant Green Grant Green (June 6, 1935 – January 31, 1979) was an American jazz guitarist and composer. Green has been called one of the "most sampled guitarists." Biography Grant Green was born on June 6, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri, to John and ...

*'' Am I Blue'' (Blue Note, 1962) With

*''

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'' (Blue Note, 1969) *''

Fat Albert Rotunda ''Fat Albert Rotunda'' is the eighth album by jazz keyboardist Herbie Hancock, released in 1969. It was Hancock's first release for Warner Bros. Records after his departure from Blue Note Records. The music was originally done for the TV spec ...

'' (Warner Bros., 1969) With Buck Hill *'' The Buck Stops Here'' (Muse, 1992) With Etta Jones *'' Christmas with Etta Jones'' (Muse, 1990) With

Philly Joe Jones Joseph Rudolph "Philly Joe" Jones (July 15, 1923 – August 30, 1985) was an American Jazz drumming, jazz drummer. Biography Early career As a child, Jones appeared as a featured tap dancer on ''The Kiddie Show'' on the Philadelphia radio stat ...

Dameronia *'' To Tadd with Love'' (Uptown, 1982) With

*'' Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy Cornell 1964'' (Blue Note, 1964

007 The ''James Bond'' franchise focuses on James Bond (literary character), the titular character, a fictional Secret Intelligence Service, British Secret Service agent created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels ...

*'' Town Hall Concert'' (Fantasy, 1964) *'' Revenge!'' (Revenge, 1964 996 *'' The Great Concert of Charles Mingus'' (America, 1964) *''Hope so Eric Volume 1'' Charles Mingus Orchestra, with Eric Dolphy 1964 (Italy: Ingo, 1964) With James Moody *'' Flute 'n the Blues'' (Argo, 1956) *'' Moody's Mood for Love'' (Argo, 1956) *'' James Moody'' (Argo, 1959) *'' Great Day'' (Argo, 1963) *'' The Blues and Other Colors'' (Milestone, 1969) With

*'' Bebop Lives!'' (Contemporary, 1987) With Horace Parlan *'' Happy Frame of Mind'' (Blue Note, 1963; first issued as part of the double LP '' Back from the Gig'' by

, 1976) With Duke Pearson *'' Hush!'' (Jazzline, 1962) *'' Honeybuns'' (Atlantic, 1965) *''

Prairie Dog Prairie dogs (genus ''Cynomys'') are herbivorous burrowing Marmotini, ground squirrels native to the grasslands of North America. There are five recognized species of prairie dog: black-tailed prairie dog, black-tailed, white-tailed prairie dog ...

'' (Atlantic, 1966) With A. K. Salim * '' Stable Mates'' (Savoy, 1957) *'' Afro-Soul/Drum Orgy'' (Prestige, 1965)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coles, Johnny 1926 births 1997 deaths Musicians from Trenton, New Jersey American jazz trumpeters American male trumpeters Duke Ellington Orchestra members Blue Note Records artists 20th-century American musicians American male jazz musicians Dameronia members Uptown Records (jazz) artists 20th-century American male musicians Criss Cross Jazz artists