She’s Funny That Way – 1981
Bill Coleman
The swing trumpeter, late in life, still heard in prime form
Click here to Support Jazz on the Tube
Bill Coleman (1904-81) was a very good American trumpeter who spent most of his life living and playing in Europe.
Coleman had his recording debut in 1929 with Luis Russell, made records in New York in the 1930s with Don Redman, Fats Waller and Teddy Hill, and spent the 1935-39 period quite busy in Europe including recording as a leader and with Django Reinhardt.
Back in the U.S. with the outbreak of World War II, he worked with Benny Carter, Teddy Wilson and Coleman Hawkins, recording frequently including on famous sessions that also featured Lester Young.
Bill Coleman would be better remembered today but he moved back to Europe in the late 1940s where he worked and recorded steadily while being largely forgotten in the United States.
Coleman’s last recording was in 1980 but this live appearance is from the following year, just a few months before his passing at the age of 77.
The lyrical swing trumpeter is in excellent form both soloing and singing on “She’s Funny That Way” during a performance with tenor-saxophonist Pierre Boyer, pianist Cliff Smalls, bassist Leonard Gaskin, and drummer Oliver Jackson.
-Scott Yanow
