Looking for Johnny Coles
lades
> I've been wondering if anyone knows the whereabouts of Johnny Coles the
> trumpet player. I know that in the last 10 to 15 years he has spent time
> in San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia, with probably the most time
> spent in Philly.
>
> Johnny is a truly unique trumpet player (not just a clone of early Miles,
> as some have said), and especially a unique personality. I had the
> pleasure of knowing him in the mid-70's when he played with Ray Charles,
> and have lost track of where he is. A mutual friend of ours, James Clay
> (tenor saxophonist from Dallas, TX who recently passed away) told me that
> he saw Johnny recently, some time in 1994 in New York.
>
> If anyone can shed some light on Johnny, where he has been living,
> playing, etc. I would appreciate it.
>
> Jack Evans - Dallas TX (Trpt...@AOL.COM)
>
I caught him at the 1993 Chicago Jazz Festival. He was there to play
with a group of Ellingtonians. I didn't make that set but did catch him
at Joe Segal's Jazz Showcase after the Fst playing with Rufus Reid and
maybe Willie Pickens on piano. I was a little disappointed that he played
mostly the bebop warhorses, which I don't think are his particular forte.
He mentioned that the previous Sunday he had participated in a tribute
to Dizzy in the New York area at which 100 trumpeters had played.
Mark Ladens
David A. Hoffman
In a previous article, lade...@pilot.msu.edu (lades) says:
>In Article <3i99r8$f...@newsbf02.news.aol.com> "trpt...@aol.com (Trpt Jack)" says:
>> I've been wondering if anyone knows the whereabouts of Johnny Coles the
>> trumpet player. I know that in the last 10 to 15 years he has spent time
>> in San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia, with probably the most time
>> spent in Philly.
>>
I think Johnny is still living in Philly. A great player. I am
currently in the unenvyable position of playing his trumpet solos with
Ray Charles. Keeps me on my toes, cause I know Johnny always sounded
great.
>
Jan R. Klincewocz
>
>I've been wondering if anyone knows the whereabouts of Johnny Coles the
>trumpet player. I know that in the last 10 to 15 years he has spent time
>in San Francisco, New York and Philadelphia, with probably the most time
>spent in Philly.
>
Johnny is still in Philly, and plays around at local clubs.
He plays at Orliebs's Jazz Haus a lot at 4th and Poplar. I guess he
gets some NY gigs once in awhile, since there's not enough constant
jazz in Philly to sustain even a legend like Johnny. He was playing
with the "Elders of Jazz", a sort of "senior citizen" big band here,
with players like Jimmy Olliver. I'll check around and see if I can find
a number for you if you want ....
Tom Brown
>hear that he's still out there playing, since I lost track of him back in
>the late 80's too. There are a couple of recordings of his from the late
>80's out. One is with Frank Wess, called "Two At The Top" (on Uptown
>Records), and the other is a quartet called "New Morning" (on Criss Cross
>- I think). Anybody else know of any good recordings from recent times
>(or before for that matter!)?
I still think my favorite JC is on Herbie's "The Prisoner".
Frumentios
gig! I ran into him on Polk St. in S.F. about two years later. I know
his wife used to do a radio show somewhere in the Bay Area. That's all I
know.
Dana Hall
Brown) wrote:
Yea, Johnny sounds very nice on _The Prisoner_, but I think he sounds his
best on Gil Evan's recordings from the late '50s, _New Bottle, Old Wine_
and _Great Jazz Standards_. Particularly _Great Jazz Standards_....his
playing on there is sublime. Cannonball Adderley is the featured performer
on _New Bottle, Old Wine_. Both are essential if you can find them on CD
(both are out of print). I believe there was a 2-fer of them put out,
though on Blue Note (courtesy of Pacific Jazz, their original label). Gil
Evans is a master arranger/composer, isn't he?
Dana Hall
Dana Hall
Along the lines of just where is Johnny Coles, I played with him in
Philly down at Ortlieb's Jazz Haus about a year and a half ago. He had
just gotten false teeth and was working on getting his embrochure back
together (or should I say inventing a new one for himself). He sounded
pretty together already, playing those long, puckish lines he's known for.
His sound was fat, and he was as lyrical as any horn player I have ever
heard. Johnny Coles is one of the most underated horn players/ jazz
musicians I can think of. From his playing with Mingus, to Gil Evans, to
Herbie Hancock, he always sounds just right.
I remember when I first met him and thought "This is THE Johnny
Coles....!!!!". Man, was that an honor. And to play with him, too??!!??
Man!!!
Anyway, last I knew, he was living in Philly, doing a little traveling,
but basically just hangin' out.
Dana Hall
Jan R. Klincewicz
>but basically just hangin' out.
> Dana Hall
Dana - He's still playing at Ortlieb's on a fairly regular basis. Bootsie Barnes
told me that Johnny is still in Philly, just the other night.
Jan.R.Kl...@Bell-Atl.Com
The preceding comments do not necessarily reflect the opinions
of anyone (including the author).
TornCot
John Coles
Seloc Productions
714 N. Franklin Street #2
Phila,PA 19123
------------------------------------
Johnny's still at Ortlieb's sometimes playing and sometimes just showing
up for a scotch and to check out the scene. Not in the best of shape,
sadly, very thin, and he has some kind of an odd skin condition. (He could
have had this for years, don't have old pictures of him) His playing
clearly isn't what it used to be, he has good nights and bad nights, the
local guys treat him well, but my hunch is that he'd love some letters. He
generally tours Europe once a year, and I caught him on the ss Norway last
fall.
Dave Krugman