George Coleman - At Yoshi's

[jazzharbinger07]

I bought this c.d. because of the song "Up Jumped Spring". I heard a clip of his arrangement by buying the Jazz Player magazine. One thing led to another and I ended up ordering the c.d. thru towerrecords. There is also an interview in that particular Jazz Player Isuue..perhaps the best jazz magazine out right now. Anyhow..George is the guy who replaced John Coltrane in the Miles Davis Quintet back in the 60's.
All I can say is one thing..that is the truth. I have never heard a saxophonist do the things with a sax that I have heard on this album. I never heard Coltrane or Parker do some of the tricks with breathing an note articulation that I heard hear. One of my all-time favorite jazz albums .
He is accompanied by another not to well known pianist named Harold Maybern. Harolds piano solo on "Up jumped Spring" is the best piano solo I have ever heard. Thats all I can say ..judge for yourself. Georges sax solo on "Good Morning Heartache" will go un matched for decades if not centuries. Thats all I can say. I wish this group was a real group who played together all the time. It brings tears to my eyes. It's a c.d. that I would by over and over if they kept getting scratched a true collectors item ..sort of like Tete Montoliu stuff...but better. Anyway..let me know what you think..Peace

[Tom Storer]

I don't know "At Yoshi's," but I've seen George Coleman on numerous occasions and agree that he's a true heavyweight. His quartet with Mabern and Idris Muhammad on drums was a mainstay in New York for years. It's great you've discovered him. Mabern has played and recorded a good deal with Lou Donaldson, among others, and now enjoys a kind of elder statesman's role among a younger generation of boppers in New York.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by jazzharbinger07

Anyhow..George is the guy who replaced John Coltrane in the Miles Davis Quintet back in the 60's.

Not quite accurate. Trane's immediate successor was, I believe, Stitt. Hank Mobley had a well documented stint with Miles before Coleman, and the obscure tenor Rocky Boyd also played in the band. By the way, there was also a short time, between Wynton Kelly & Hancock, when Mabern played with Miles, along with Coleman and Frank Strozier on alto (the unrecorded Memphis sextet).

[BFrank]

Harold Mabern is a true heavyweight in his own right.

I had this album at one time, but somehow it didn't grab me after repeated listenings. Nothing specific, but I ended up trading it in.

"Amsterdam After Dark" is one of his best solo outings IMO.

[Pete C]

Originally Posted by BFrank

Harold Mabern is a true heavyweight in his own right.

Indeed. He has a similar attack to Sonny Liston.

[Sand]

Originally Posted by BFrank

Harold Mabern is a true heavyweight in his own right.

I had this album at one time, but somehow it didn't grab me after repeated listenings. Nothing specific, but I ended up trading it in.

"Amsterdam After Dark" is one of his best solo outings IMO.

I still have both albums, but we seem to have reacted in the same way.
Sam Jones and George Coleman together, those were the two I gave most of my attention, and Billy Higgins probably may have inspired all of them, but I'm not sure that he was on that recording :-) But, if not , who the hell was it?

[Clay Fink]

Originally Posted by Sand

I still have both albums, but we seem to have reacted in the same way.
Sam Jones and George Coleman together, those were the two I gave most of my attention, and Billy Higgins probably may have inspired all of them, but I'm not sure that he was on that recording :-) But, if not , who the hell was it?

Idris.

I like "Live at Yoshi's" quite a lot. A few years ago Coleman put out a CD of Richard Rogers tunes, with Mabern and Higgins, that was also pretty good.

[Monte Smith]

Originally Posted by Clay Fink

I like "Live at Yoshi's" quite a lot. A few years ago Coleman put out a CD of Richard Rogers tunes, with Mabern and Higgins, that was also pretty good.

It's called I Could Write a Book and it is from Telarc (1998). Listening to it right now.

[Tom Marcello]

Coleman's solo on Soul Eyes is one of the most exciting tenor solos I've ever heard.

Live at Yoshi's is a great recording.