Johnny Coles
John Coles was an American jazz trumpeter.
Early life
Coles was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on July 3, 1926. He grew up in Philadelphia 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, Bull Moose Jackson, and Earl Bostic. He was with James Moody from 1956 to 1958, and played with Gil Evans's orchestra between 1958 and 1964, including for the album Out of the Cool. After this, he spent time with Charles Mingus in his sextet, which also included Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Jaki Byard, and Dannie Richmond. Following this he played with Herbie Hancock, Ray Charles, Duke Ellington, Art Blakey, Dameronia, Mingus Dynasty, and the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones.In 1985, Coles settled in the San Francisco Bay Area; he recorded with Frank Morgan 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
- Little Johnny C
- Katumbo
- New Morning
- Two at the Top with Frank Wess
As sideman
With Tina Brooks
- The [Waiting Game |The Waiting Game]
- I Know Pres
- New Bottle Old Wine
- Great Jazz Standards
- Out of the Cool
- The Individualism of Gil Evans
- Blues [in Orbit |Blues in Orbit]
- Where Flamingos Fly
- Bud and Bird
- Farewell
With Astrud Gilberto
With Grant Green
With Herbie Hancock
With Buck Hill
With Etta Jones
With Philly Joe Jones Dameronia
With Charles Mingus
- Charles Mingus Sextet with [Eric Dolphy Cornell 1964]
- Town Hall Concert
- Revenge!
- The Great Concert of Charles Mingus
- Hope so Eric Volume 1 Charles Mingus Orchestra, with Eric Dolphy 1964
With Frank Morgan
With Horace Parlan
With Duke Pearson
With A. K. Salim