Johnny Coles

For other people named John Coles, see John Coles (disambiguation).

Johnny Coles (July 3, 1926 in Trenton, New Jersey – December 21, 1997 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an American jazz trumpeter.

Coles spent his early career playing with R&B groups, including those of Eddie Vinson (1948–1951), Bull Moose Jackson (1952), and Earl Bostic (1955–1956). He was with James Moody from 1956 to 1958, and played with Gil Evans's orchestra between 1958 and 1964, including on the Miles Davis album Sketches of Spain. 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 (1968–1969), Ray Charles (1969–1971), Duke Ellington (1971–1974), Art Blakey (1976), Dameronia, Mingus Dynasty, and the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones (1985–1986).

Coles, nicknamed "Little Johnny C", recorded as a leader several times over the course of his career. He died of cancer in 1997.

Discography

As leader

• The Warm Sound (Epic, 1961)
• Little Johnny C (Blue Note, 1963)
• Katumbo (Dance) (Mainstream, 1971)
• New Morning (Criss Cross Jazz, 1982)

As sideman

With Geri Allen

• Some Aspects of Water (Storyville, 1996)

With Tina Brooks

• The Waiting Game (Blue Note, 1961)

With Gil Evans

• New Bottle Old Wine (World Pacific, 1958)
• Great Jazz Standards (World Pacific, 1959)
• Out of the Cool (Impulse!, 1960)
• The Individualism of Gil Evans (Verve, 1964)
• Blues in Orbit (Enja, 1971)
• Where Flamingos Fly (Artists House, 1971 [1981])
• Farewell (Evidence, 1986 [1988])

With Booker Ervin

• Booker 'n' Brass (Pacific Jazz, 1967)

With Astrud Gilberto

• Look to the Rainbow (Verve, 1966)

With Grant Green

• Am I Blue (Blue Note, 1962)

With Herbie Hancock

• The Prisoner (Blue Note, 1969)
• Fat Albert Rotunda (Warner Bros., 1969)

With Charles Mingus

• Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy Cornell 1964 (Blue Note, 1964 [2007])
• Town Hall Concert (Fantasy, 1964)
• Revenge! (Revenge, 1964 [1996])
• The Great Concert of Charles Mingus (America, 1964)

With James Moody

• Flute 'n the Blues (Argo, 1956)
• Moody's Mood for Love (Argo, 1956)
• James Moody (Argo, 1959)
• Great Day (Argo, 1963)
• The Blues and Other Colors (Milestone, 1969)

With Horace Parlan

• Happy Frame of Mind (Blue Note, 1964 [1998])

With Duke Pearson

• Hush! (Jazzline, 1962)
• Honeybuns (Atlantic, 1965)
• Prairie Dog (Atlantic, 1966)

With A. K. Salim

• Stable Mates (Savoy, 1957)
• Afro-Soul/Drum Orgy (Prestige, 1965)

References

• Scott Yanow, Johnny Coles at Allmusic