Few saxophonists in jazz history can match the breadth and depth of George Coleman’s career. A member of Max Roach’s ensemble in the late 1950s, a key voice in Miles Davis’s groundbreaking quintet in the early 1960s, and a collaborator with giants like Herbie Hancock, Chet Baker, and Elvin Jones, Coleman has been a major influence on generations of saxophonists. With 19 albums as a leader already to his credit, he could easily rest on his laurels. Instead, at the age of 90, Coleman has chosen to do something entirely new—record his first album backed by a string orchestra.
A Tradition with Deep Roots
His new release, George Coleman with Strings (out August 29, 2025 on HighNote Records), places Coleman in a lineage of lyrical jazz milestones—joining the ranks of Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, and Ben Webster, all of whom explored lush string settings to reveal a different side of their artistry. Known for his warm, smoky tone and melodic inventiveness, Coleman sounds utterly at home in this setting, his tenor weaving through Bill Dobbins’ elegant arrangements with both grace and authority.
“Still growing. Still reaching. He’s telling you a story he’s been holding onto for years,” producer Diane Armesto says. “This album isn’t just another notch in his belt—it’s a gift.”
A Life in Music
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Coleman came of age surrounded by extraordinary peers—Booker Little, Harold Mabern, Frank Strozier, Jamil Nasser, Hank Crawford, Phineas Newborn Jr., and blues legend B.B. King. By the mid-1950s, he was a fixture in Chicago’s jazz scene before joining Max Roach’s band in 1958. New York became his permanent home soon after, and from there he worked with some of the greatest names in jazz while leading his own groups from 1973 onward.
Coleman’s career has also been defined by his commitment to jazz education, teaching at institutions including The New School University, NYU, and the Mannes School of Music, while conducting workshops and master classes across the country.
The Making of George Coleman with Strings
The project was recorded in 2022 at the legendary Van Gelder Studio and brought to life by Coleman’s producer Diane Armesto along with his longtime friend and protégé, saxophonist Eric Alexander. The rhythm section features members of Coleman’s trusted quartet: John Webber (bass), Joe Farnsworth (drums), and David Hazeltine (piano)—who stepped into the chair once held by Harold Mabern. The lush 10-piece string arrangements were penned by Bill Dobbins, with percussion virtuoso Café Da Silva adding rhythmic colors to select tracks.
The repertoire, chosen by Armesto and Alexander, allows Coleman to simply step into the studio and do what he does best: tell stories through his horn.
Inside the Music
The album opens with a tender reading of Sammy Cahn’s “Dedicated to You”, Coleman’s tenor enveloped in rich string harmonies. On Henry Mancini’s “Moment to Moment”, Hazeltine states the melody while Coleman enters later, riding a gentle Latin tango feel supported by Webber, Farnsworth, and Da Silva’s bongos and shakers.
Coleman’s interpretation of Victor Young’s “Stella by Starlight” is a masterclass in harmonic sophistication, while Johnny Mandel’s “A Time for Love” appears twice: a short version and an extended cut featuring a sweeping orchestral introduction.
Thelonious Monk’s “Ugly Beauty” might seem an unlikely candidate for strings, but Dobbins’ atmospheric arrangement and Coleman’s understated delivery transform it into one of the album’s most compelling moments. Like “A Time for Love,” it appears in two versions, one with the full orchestral prelude.
A Vital Voice at 90
Even after six decades in the spotlight, George Coleman’s playing remains vibrant, soulful, and deeply human. His sound—rooted in Memphis blues, shaped by modern jazz innovation—resonates with both seasoned jazz fans and new listeners alike. Backed by a distinguished rhythm section and Dobbins’ sumptuous strings, George Coleman with Strings stands as both a late-career triumph and a timeless addition to the jazz canon.
When it comes to George Coleman, there’s no question—age has only deepened his artistry. And with this album, he’s given us not just a performance, but a legacy.
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