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George Coleman: George Coleman with Strings

By Jack Kenny
September 2, 2025
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George Coleman: George Coleman with Strings

The allure of recording with strings has captivated many jazz icons, from

Stan Getz

saxophone, tenor
1927 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Getz and

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie to, most famously,

Charlie Parker

saxophone, alto
1920 - 1955

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Parker. For some, it is a pursuit of a different kind of respectability, an envying nod to the classical world. For

" data-original-title="" title="">George Coleman, a revered NEA Jazz Master, it was a chance to expand his artistry. As he explained in an interview with Rob Shepherd (2024): "I try not to be close-minded but instead try to expand my interest in other fields of music. I'm amazed by the techniques and some of the things that classical musicians do."

Coleman's 2022 album with strings, recorded at the legendary

Rudy Van Gelder

various
1924 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Rudy Van Gelder studio, is a testament to his enduring legacy. A true survivor with a career stretching back decades, Coleman is joined by his working rhythm section—

John Webber

bass, acoustic

" data-original-title="" title="">John Webber on bass,

Joe Farnsworth

drums
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Farnsworth on drums and

David Hazeltine

piano
b.1958

" data-original-title="" title="">David Hazeltine on piano—with percussionist

Cafe Da Silva

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Cafe Da Silva added on some tracks. The lush, 10-piece string orchestra features arrangements by

Bill Dobbins

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Dobbins of the Eastman School of Music.

Coleman's impressive resume includes stints with jazz giants like

Max Roach

drums
1925 - 2007

" data-original-title="" title="">Max Roach,

Lionel Hampton

vibraphone
1908 - 2002

" data-original-title="" title="">Lionel Hampton,

Charles Mingus

bass, acoustic
1922 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Charles Mingus and

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis, where he played a pivotal role between the first and second great quintets. He was also a member of the landmark ensemble on

Herbie Hancock

piano
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock's iconic album, Maiden Voyage (Blue Note, 1965).

Bill Dobbins' arrangements are subtle and sophisticated, a masterful blend that supports the soloist without ever getting in the way. This is a rare and difficult feat; very few jazz-with-strings albums are considered wholly successful. The

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz album An Image (Verve, 1958), arranged by

Bill Russo

trombone

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Russo, is one of the few that stand out.

Dobbins' clever writing shines on

Thelonious Monk

piano
1917 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Thelonious Monk's "Ugly Beauty," which he transforms into a film noir theme. The string arrangement evokes the feeling of a classic movie scene as Coleman's saxophone soars seductively over the top. It is a beautifully rendered and sensitive solo. The album features two versions of this piece, with Coleman's playing impressive on both. His performance here is not that of the hard-swinging player of the past, but a more reflective musician displaying the wisdom gained from a lifetime of experience.

The album as a whole is a hymn to jazz beauty and a powerful summation of Coleman's career. The music on "Stella By Starlight" is understated and tender, freighted with years of experience. The arrangement is supportive, never forcing the soloist into a particular direction. On "Moment To Moment," Coleman's first chorus is almost abstract, full of motifs and open spaces, before his imagination and lyricism are fully unleashed in the second part. Both versions of "A Time for Love" skillfully avoid schmaltz, introduced by a thoughtful and lyrical piano solo from Hazeltine. Artists sometimes produce remarkable work in their later years.

Billie Holiday

vocals
1915 - 1959

" data-original-title="" title="">Billie Holiday's Lady in Satin (Columbia Records 1958) is a famously heartbreaking example. But not all are so successful;

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington's band struggled toward the end of his life, and Davis desperately chased relevance with his fusion experiments. In contrast, Coleman triumphantly uses everything he has learned over the years to cut away the unnecessary and focus on the essential. This album is a testament to a career of triumphs and a master at the peak of his maturity.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Dedicated To You; Moment To Moment; Stella By Starlight; A Time For Love; Ugly Beauty; A Time For Love; Ugly Beauty.

Personnel

George Coleman

saxophone, tenor

David Hazeltine

piano

John Webber

bass, acoustic

Cafe Da Silva

percussion

Additional Instrumentation

Bill Dobbins: conductor and arranger of string orchestra.

Album information

Title: George Coleman with Strings | Year Released: 2025 | Record Label: HighNote Records

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