Bill Coleman
Source: Jazz Rhythm
Born on 4 August 1904 in Paris, Kentucky, trumpeter, Bill Coleman's career spanned from early jazz well into modern. He roamed through several bands before traveling to New York City in 1927 where he met Luis Russell. Coleman's first known recording on 6 September 1929 was 'The New Call of the Freaks' with Russell. Though Henry Red Allen was Russell's main trumpet player Coleman plays solo on 'Feeling the Spirit', below. Coleman also recorded with Cecil Scott & His Bright Boys in 1929.
'Feelin' the Spirit' Bill Coleman w Luis Russell and His Orchestra
Coleman's 2nd known recording
Recorded 6 Sep 1929 in NYC Matrix 402939-C Okeh 8766
Trumpet: Henry Red Allen / Bill Coleman Trombone: J.C. Higginbotham (vocal)
Clarinet / sax: Albert Nicholas Sax: Charlie Holmes / Teddy Hill
Piano: Luis Russell Guitar / banjo: Will Johnson
Bass: Pops Foster Drums: Paul Barbarin
Composition: Luis Russell
'In a Corner' Bill Coleman w Cecil Scott and His Bright Boys
Recorded 19 Nov 1929 in NYC Matrix 57710-1 Victor V-38098
Trumpet: Bill Coleman / Frankie Newton Trombone: Dicky Wells
Clarinet / sax: Cecil Scott Alto sax: John Williams / Harold McFerran
Piano: Don Frye Banjo: Rudolph Williams
Tuba: Mack Walker Drums: Lloyd Scott
Composition: Cecil Scott
During Coleman's first trip to Europe with Lucky Millinder in 1933 he met swing guitarist, Django Reinhardt. Upon returning to the States he recorded with Benny Carter, then Fats Waller in 1935, after which he returned to Paris to put down tracks with Reinhardt the same year.
'Rosetta' Bill Coleman w Garnet Clark and His Hot Club's Four
Recorded 25 Nov 1935 in Paris Matrix OLA-730-1 HMV K7618
Trumpet: Bill Coleman Clarinet / alto sax: George Johnson
Piano: Garnet Clark Guitar: Django Reinhardt Bass: June Cole
Composition: Earl Hines / Henri Woode
'The Object of My Affection' Bill Coleman w Garnet Clark and His Hot Club's Four
Recorded 25 Nov 1935 in Paris Matrix OLA-732-1 HMV K7618
Trumpet: Bill Coleman (vocal) Clarinet / alto sax: George Johnson
Piano: Garnet Clark Guitar: Django Reinhardt Bass: June Cole
Composition: Jimmie Grier / Pinky Tomlin / Coy Poe
'Georgia on My Mind' Bill Coleman Trio
Recorded 24 Jan 1936 in Paris Matrix 77625 Ultraphon AP-1235
Piano: Herman Chittison Bass: Eugene d'Hellemmes
Music: Hoagy Carmichael Lyrics: Stuart Gorrell 1930
'I'm in the Mood for Love' Bill Coleman Duet w Herman Chittison (piano)
Recorded 31 Jan 1936 in Paris Matrix OLA-849-1 His Master's Voice K-7764
Music: Jimmy McHugh Lyrics: Dorothy Fields 1935
In 1937 Coleman traveled to Bombay, returned to Paris, then headed for Cairo before returning to the States in 1940. Coleman then performed with numerous big names before returning to Paris permanently in 1948. Like not a few black musicians, Coleman confronted less racism in Europe than in the United States. During the fifties he ramrodded various bands in Paris, also touring in Switzerland and Denmark. He toured to the UK, Belgium and Denmark in the sixties. He played in Italy and Switzerland again in the seventies. Coleman's final titles were recorded in Toulouse, France, on 15 May 1980, toward the album, 'Really I Do'.
'Big Boy Blues' Bill Coleman Orchestra
Recorded 19 Nov 1937 in Paris Matrix OLA-1981-1 Swing 32
Trumpet: Bill Coleman (vocal) Clarinet: Christian Wagner
Tenor sax: Frank "Big Boy" Goudie
Piano: Emil Stern Guitar: Django Reinhardt
Bass: Lucien Simoens Drums: Jerry Mengo
Composition: Frank "Big Boy" Goudie
'Swing Guitars' Bill Coleman Orchestra
Recorded 19 Nov 1937 in Paris Matrix OLA-1982-1 Swing 32
Trumpet: Bill Coleman Clarinet: Christian Wagner
Tenor sax: Frank "Big Boy" Goudie
Piano: Emil Stern Guitar: Django Reinhardt
Bass: Lucien Simoens Drums: Jerry Mengo
Composition: Django Reinhardt / Stéphane Grappelli
'Bill Coleman Blues' Bill Coleman Duet w Django Reinhardt (guitar)
Recorded 19 Nov 1937 in Paris Matrix OLA-1983-1 Swing 42
Composition: Bill Coleman
'I'm Fer It Too' Bill Coleman w Dickie Wells and His Orchestra
Recorded 21 Dec 1943 in NYC
1 of 2 takes issued on either Signature 90002 or Jazz Selection EPL-7001
Trumpet: Bill Coleman Trombone: Dickie Wells
Tenor sax: Lester Young Piano: Ellis Larkins Guitar: Freddie Green
Bass: Al Hall Drums: Papa Jo Jones
Composition: Dickie Wells
'Stardust' Bill Coleman Quartet
Recorded 9 June 1945 at Town Hall in NYC Commodore FL 20,027
Trumpet: Bill Coleman Piano: Billy Taylor
Bass: Matty Chapin Drums: Specs Powell
Composition: Hoagy Carmichael / Mitchell Parish
'Come On a' My House' Bill Coleman Orchestra
Recorded 9 Nov 1951 in Paris
1 of 3 takes issued on either Philips 72043H or EmArcy 983413-0 (CD)
Trumpet: Bill Coleman (vocal) Trombone: Bill Tamper (arrangement)
Alto sax: Jay Cameron Baritone sax: William Boucaya Piano: Art Simmons
Guitar: Jean-Pierre Sasson Bass: Guy DeFatto Drums: Gerard "Dave" Pochonet
Composition: Ross Bagdasarian / William Saroyan 1939
'From Boogie to Funk' Bill Coleman Album
Recorded 21 & 22 Jan 1960 in Paris Brunswick 87905 / 1960
Trumpet: Bill Coleman (vocal) Trombone: Quentin Jackson
Tenor sax: Budd Johnson Piano: Patti Bown
Guitar: Les Spann Bass: Buddy Catlett Drums: Joe Harris
Compositions: Bill Coleman
''S Wonderful' Bill Coleman w Michel Attenoux (alto sax) Television
Taped at the Trois Mailletz cabaret in Paris 16 July 1960
Flute: Dominique Chamson Piano: André Persiany
Bass: Pascal Groffe Drums: Charles Saudrais
Composition: George & Ira Gershwin 1927
'I've Gotta Right to Sing the Blues' Bill Coleman Television
Unknown venue for unknown station sometime 1960
Music: Harold Arlen Lyrics: Ted Koehler 1932
'Perdido' ('Lost') Bill Coleman w the Roman New Orleans Jazz Band Television
Unknown venue for unknown station sometime 1960
Composition: Juan Tizol 1941 First recorded by Duke Ellington in 1942
'For Max' Bill Coleman
Recorded 27 April 1967 in London
From the album 'Ben Webster Meets Bill Coleman'
Trumpet: Bill Coleman Tenor sax: Ben Webster Piano: Fred Hunt
Guitar: Jim Douglas Bass: Ronnie Rae Drums: Lennie Hastings
Composition: Ben Webster / Bill Coleman
'Satin Doll' Bill Coleman
Recorded 27 April 1967 in London
From the album 'Ben Webster Meets Bill Coleman'
Trumpet: Bill Coleman (Webster out) Piano: Fred Hunt
Guitar: Jim Douglas Bass: Ronnie Rae Drums: Lennie Hastings
Composition: Billy Strayhorn / Duke Ellington / Johnny Mercer
'I Want a Little Girl' Bill Coleman French television
'Jazz Harmonie' sometime 1972
Piano: Marc Hemmeler Guitar: Jimmy Gourley
Bass: Pierre Sim Drums: Michel Silva
Composition: Billy Moll / Murray Mencher
'Sunday' Bill Coleman French television
'Jazz Harmonie' sometime 1972
Piano: Marc Hemmeler Guitar: Jimmy Gourley
Bass: Pierre Sim Drums: Michel Silva
Music: Chester Conn 1926 Lyrics: Jule Styne / Bennie Krueger / Ned Miller
'Really I Do' Bill Coleman Album
Coleman's final recordings
Recorded 15 May 1980 in Toulouse Black And Blue 33.162 / 1982
Tenor sax: Guy Lafitte Piano: Red Richards
Bass: Bill Pemberton Drums: Panama Francis
Coleman died in Toulouse, France, on 24 August 1981 [obit].
Sources & References for Bill Coleman:
VF History (notes)
Scott Yanow (All Music)
Associates Musical:
Michel Attenoux (saxophone / 1930-88):
Roman New Orleans Jazz Band:
Artist Info (configuration 1st / 1948)
Artist Info (configuration 2nd / 1952)
Wikipedia (configuration 1st / 1948)
Wikipedia (configuration 2nd / 1952)
Audio of Coleman: Internet Archive
Autobiography:
Trumpet Story (Cana Editions / 1981)Recordings: Catalogs: 45 Worlds Discogs RYM SHS
Recordings: Compilations:
Bill Coleman in Paris 1935/38 (w Django Reinhardt / Disques Swing 8402 / 1985)
The Chronological Bill Coleman 1940-49 (Chronological Classics / 2002)
Recordings: Select:
Ben Webster Meets Bill Coleman (Black Lion Records BLCD 760141 / 1989)
From Boogie to Funk (Brunswick 87905 / 1960)
Really I Do (final recordings / Black And Blue 33.162 / 1982)
Recordings: Sessions:
DAHR (1929-49)
Jan Evensmo (solography 1929-53)
Tom Lord (leading 58 of 151 sessions 1929-80)
Repertoire: Music Brainz (alphabetical w personnel & composers)
Further Reading: Hot Club De Belgique (Coleman w Jump College in 1951)
Authority Search:
BNF Data VIAFOther Profiles:
Joshua Farrington (Kentucky African American Encyclopedia / University Press of Kentucky / 2015)
Classical Main Menu Modern Recording
hmrproject (at) aol (dot) com