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George Coleman: In Baltimore

By Mike Jurkovic
November 27, 2020
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At 85, tenor saxophonist

George Coleman

saxophone, tenor
b.1935

" data-original-title="" title="">George Coleman has sat in on and made his presence mightily known on a host of flat out, hard bopping sessions beginning with B.B. King through

Max Roach

drums
1925 - 2007

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

Miles Davis

trumpet
1926 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Miles Davis,

Booker Little

trumpet
1938 - 1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Booker Little,

Lee Morgan

trumpet
1938 - 1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Morgan,

" data-original-title="" title="">Herbie Hancock and . . . well, you should have got the larger picture by now.

So to hear Coleman fronting his own quintet of exuberant merry men on the previously unreleased ?The George Coleman Quintet in Baltimore is a flat out joy on any given day, let alone one amidst a year of pestilence, panic, and paranoia. A bristling set recorded live at Baltimore's Famous Ballroom in May 1971, it's pure joy to hear Coleman and company, senior league sidemen all—trumpeter

Danny Moore

trumpet
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Danny Moore?(

Quincy Jones

arranger
1933 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Quincy Jones,

Dizzy Gillespie

trumpet
1917 - 1993

" data-original-title="" title="">Dizzy Gillespie), pianist?

Albert Dailey

piano
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Albert Dailey (

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins,

Art Blakey

drums
1919 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Art Blakey), bassist?

Larry Ridley

bass
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry Ridley?(

Horace Silver

piano
1928 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Horace Silver,

Jackie McLean

saxophone, alto
1932 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Jackie McLean), and drummer?

Harold White

drums

" data-original-title="" title="">Harold White (

Gary Bartz

saxophone, alto
b.1940

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Bartz,

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

woodwinds
1935 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Rahsaan Roland Kirk), giving the audience their money's worth and then some nearly fifty years down the line.

Drop the needle anywhere on this limited-edition, Record Store Day Black Friday vinyl from

Zev Feldman

producer

" data-original-title="" title="">Zev Feldman and saxophonist

Cory Weeds

saxophone, alto
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Cory Weeds Reel to Real label (the digital equivalent drops in December) and it's a time machine back to a purer time when all you needed was an old stage and five guys blowing to make any city night bright with magic. Coleman cuts and runs loose like a fevered wizard on a hot bed spin through "I Got Rhythm" with Moore and Dailey in mad pursuit. A joyful, unabashed swing is "Body and Soul" thanks to the unswerving though malleable muscle of White and Ridley. Coleman's deep blue tone and heated, real time acrobatics spark and ignite a set of constant bop shenanigans throughout "Afternoon In Paris," "Sandu" and the reckless happiness of "Joy Spring." Put this one on and revel in a time before all this.

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Track Listing

Side One: Afternoon In Paris; Sandu. Side Two: I Got Rhythm; Body And Soul; Joy Spring.

Personnel

George Coleman

saxophone, tenor

Danny Moore

trumpet

Albert Dailey

piano

Larry Ridley

bass

Harold White

drums

Album information

Title: In Baltimore | Year Released: 2020 | Record Label: Reel To Real

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