Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

COLEMAN, Bill

(b 4 August 1904, Paris KY; d 24 August 1981, Toulouse, France). Trumpet. Family moved to Cincinnati OH '09; he made his debut in semi-pro bands of J. C. Higginbotham, Edgar Hayes; to NYC '27. Worked for Luis Russell '29, '31, '32; to Europe with Lucky Millinder '33; back in NY with Benny Carter, Teddy Hill, Fats Waller; to Europe again '35; worked in Bombay six months, back to Paris, to Egypt '38 co-leading Harlem Rhythmakers/Swing Stars; back to USA '40, with Carter, Waller, Andy Kirk, own trio, Ellis Larkins trio including a Carnegie Hall concert; with Sy Oliver, Billy Kyle, then to France permanently '48. Played on some classic Russell records '29; Dickie Wells Paris session '37 (scat vocal on 'Hangin' Around Boudin'); behind pop vocalist Eddy Howard on Columbia hits '40s; many jazz festivals, visits to UK, LPs Mainstream At Montreux; with Ben Webster on Black Lion; Nice 1974, etc. Underrated, perhaps because he moved around so much, he became a pillar of the Paris jazz community: Dan Morgenstern compared his 'skipping beat and light, pure tone' to earlier Jabbo Smith, later Buck Clayton. Compilations on Classics, DRG, EPM; quintet session Plus Four on Jazzology. Memoir Trumpet Story '81 is valuable for its recall of a lot of people he worked with in a long career. Another trumpet player called Bill Coleman d 27 July 2005 aged 81 in France; he was no relation.