The Sunday Jazz Brunch Presents

George Coleman with Strings

Air Date: 9/7/2025 on 90.5 WICN 9am-12pm ET


My first experience of tenor saxophonist George Coleman was with the Miles Davis Quintet. I was listening to their release Seven Steps to Heaven and wondering who the great sax player was, noting that it was not the fellow that I was used to hearing, John Coltrane. Mr. Coleman had joined the quintet after Mr. Coltrane and then Hank Mobley, but just before Wayne Shorter. 
 
Looking back on the period I just covered, 1955-1968, you have to admit this was a peak period for jazz. It's my favorite era for Miles and the various incarnations of his quintet.
 
The new recording, George Coleman with Strings, is Mr. Coleman's first with the backing of a string orchestra. Not only that, but in the last 25 years, this is only his third time as the lead on a recording. I find that to be an amazing factoid, given Mr. Coleman's status as a tenor saxophone legend. 
 
The CD was recorded at the famed Rudy Van Gelder studio. The thirteen-piece string orchestra was arranged by Rochester-based musician and educator Bill Dobbins. In front of the strings is an all-star jazz combo, featuring John Webber bass, Joe Farnsworth drums, and David Hazeltine piano.  It is with a mixture of joy and sadness that Mr. Hazeltine joins the group, as he replaces Mr. Coleman's longtime musical partner and childhood friend, Harold Mabern, who passed away in 2019.
 
We open the show with the ballad Stella By Starlight from the new release, and during the second hour we'll listen to Thelonious Monk's Ugly Beauty.   

Strange Meadowlark  

Speaking of strings, don't miss the two versions of Dave Brubeck's Strange Meadowlark in the first hour. We'll hear a great vocal version first from Tania Grubbs, and then switch over to Alan Broadbent's version, featuring  concertmaster and violinist David Juritz in a fabulous solo. 
 
Best,
 
Marty 
 

Photo by Brianmcmillen, License CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

HOUR ONE: Contemplative Morning

George Coleman\George Coleman with Strings 2025\Stella By Starlight
Roberto Magris\Lovely Day(s) 2025\Laverne
Jennifer Madsen\Reimagine 2025\Beyond the Sea

Tania Grubbs\The Sound of Love 2024\Strange Meadowlark
Alan Broadbent\Broadbent Plays Brubeck 2021\Strange Meadowlark
Affinity Trio\Hindsight 2023\Theme for Ernie
12 SEAN MICHAEL GIDDINGS - Closing Scene

Silva & Steini\More Than You Know 2023\More Than You Know
Stan Hope-Put on a Happy Face 2005-08 Somewhere in the Night
Sophie Milman-Make Someone Happy-02 Something In The Air Between Us 2007
Take 6\The Standard\Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans

HOUR TWO: New For You

Michael Mayo\Fly 2025\Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most
Bruce Gertz\Quintet - Octopus Dreams 2025\Redacted
Peter Campbell\Haunted Melody 2025\My Mood is You

Tim Lin\Birdwatching 2024\Dewey Square
Roberto Magris\Lovely Day(s) 2025\Lonely Town
Michael Andrew with Atomic Big Band\Gershwin 2025\The Gal That Got Away
Mark Winkler\Hold On! 2025\If I Were a Bell

Michael Mayo\Fly 2025\Four
George Coleman\George Coleman with Strings 2025\Ugly Beauty
Art Hirahara\Peace Unknown 2025\The More Things Change

HOUR THREE: Brazil/World/Groove

Catina Deluna\Lado B Brazilian Project 2\03 03 Na Volta Que E
Chiara Civello\Chansons 2022O\The Good Life
Bruce Gertz\Quintet - Octopus Dreams 2025\Opening
Lauren Henderson\Sonidos 2025\La Llegada

Paul Brown-So Much To Say 2025-07 Spill Da Beans
Kombo - Pedley and Pondel-Pretty Solid 2025-04 Pretty Solid
Gino Amato\Latin Crossroads 2 2025\Someone To Watch Over Me
Antonio Adolfo-Carnaval- The Songs Were So Beautiful 2025-02 Vassourinhas

Jazz Funk Soul-Simpatico 2025-05 Something Old Something Borrowed Something Blue
Wayne Wallace\Salsa De La Bahia - Renegade Queens 2025\Disc 2\Samba Nova
Nnenna Freelon\Tales Of Wonder\Bird of Beauty
Oscar Castro-Neves-Playful Heart-02 Groovin' High (Whispering) 2003
Paul Brown-So Much To Say 2025-04 My Sweet Baby

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