George Coleman Jr.’s debut album as a leader, Resurgence, blends his father’s Memphis jazz roots, his mother’s organ sound and his love of Cuban rhythms. Coleman adeptly marries them in a celebration of joy that is bound to make you dance.
Many point to George Jr.’s father tenor saxophone titan George Coleman Sr. as his main influence but in truth it was his trailblazing mother who was his first music teacher.
Gloria Coleman played bass with Duke Ellington, lead the jazz session at Birdland and later played organ with Grant Green, Sonny Stitt and Hank Crawford and composed for vocalists, Etta Jones, Irene Reid, Ernestine Anderson, Joe Lee Wilson and raised two children as single mother. She was George Jr’s first and most important mentor.
Resurgence is creating a buzz amongst established musicians and fans of multiple genres. Veteran producer Michael Carvin highlights the band's bluesy and sophisticated melodic sounds, while paying homage to organ groups of the past with a fresh and modern edge. Renown journeyman musician Richie Morales called it “Beautiful.” Musical prodigy and McArthur Genius Grant award winner Tyshawn Sorey called it “Brilliant work that takes care of the listener.”
Resurgence includes organist Brian Charette, alto saxophonist Michael DiRubbo, guitarist Paul Bollenback, and percussionists Daniel Sadownick and Richard Livingston Huntley. George Jr. chose the musicians careful both for their talents and his long-time personal connections to them. George was the main reason Downbeat Poll Winner Brian Charette came to New York, encouraging him to leave Connecticut and be part of the trial by fire that all musicians experience in New York. George Jr. even shared his rehearsal space with Brian as it was one of the few places, he could practice his Hammond B3. Percussionists Daniel Sadownick and Richard Livingston Huntley have been friends and musical colleagues with George Jr. for several decades. It was Richard who introduced George Jr. to producer Michael Carvin who became his mentor and encouraged George Jr. to complete the documentary film on his family, “Another Kind of Soul, The Coleman Family Legacy” and this album Resurgence.
George’s father, jazz legend George Coleman Sr., makes a special guest appearance on two tracks, on his own “Amsterdam After Dark”, and “Mabe”, co-penned with George Jr. celebrating the late piano great Harold Mabern.
George Coleman Jr. and Resurgence will spend the next six months playing venues in the US and Canada. |
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