“It's homecoming at Rhodes College for a couple of old friends: Jazz greats George Coleman and Harold Mabern will perform as the George Coleman Quartet on November 23rd in the McCallum Ballroom at Rhodes.”

“The Best Jazz Shows in NYC This Month George Coleman New Octet The tenor saxophonist and Memphis native, now 78, helped define an era with his appearances on Herbie Hancock's Maiden Voyage, Miles Davis' Seven Steps to Heaven and more. Though Wayne Shorter replaced him in Miles' historic quintet, Coleman remains an influential figure, a hard-bop survivor from one of jazz's most fertile periods. At Jazz Standard (Dec. 11-15) he'll revisit an octet sound he debuted in the mid '70s and revived in 2000 on Danger High Voltage (Two & Four). There'll be trumpet (Jeremy Pelt), five saxophones (including Coleman disciple Eric Alexander) and a rhythm section featuring another survivor: piano great Harold Mabern.”

“Here is the link of our interview about our in production documentary project on the NBC show "Positively Black". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMVmnUk2viA”

“2012 initial Memphis Music Hall of Fame inductees: George Coleman along with 24 others including B.B. King, Elvis, Al Green, Issac Hayes, Jerry Lee Lewis, ZZ Top, to name a few. The inaugural inductees were selected earlier this year by a Nominating Committee of local and national music professionals, including studio owners, producers, authors, and historians who discussed and debated at length who would be tapped for induction based on a variety of criteria reflecting the fact that Memphis has long been, and continues to serve as the fulcrum for music's most original creators working in all genres including blues, gospel, jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, country, rockabilly, rock and roll, hip-hop. The Memphis Music Hall of Fame is under the administration of the Smithsonian-developed Memphis Rock ‘n’ Soul Museum. ”

“When tenor saxophone player George Coleman, who will be inducted into the new Memphis Music Hall of Fame this week, describes his career, he uses words like "overlooked," "ignored," and "forgotten." But he speaks them without the faintest hint of bitterness or regret. Ironically, Coleman, one of the great hard-bop tenor saxophone players, knows he was out of time, carrying on the traditions of Charlie Parker while all around him the young lions of free jazz were following the lead of another Coleman: Ornette. George Coleman may have been forgotten by the jazz critics, but his skills were noticed and prized by players such as John Coltrane, B.B. King, Chet Baker, Miles Davis, and Max Roach. That, he says, is what matters. ”

“Coleman then picked up the microphone, thanked the audience, briefly introduced the band and went right into "Honky Tonk," a classic 12-bar blues played with a Mississippi feel. This was essentially a blues jam, and Malone once again took the lead, playing in the key of E (which reportedly guitarists love but horn players hate) and channeling B.B. King-like licks. Coleman did a lot of soloing here, widely exploring his instruments possibilities to great results. LeDonne took a more conservative approach, playing a solo based on quieter, subtler notes. The set closed with a "harder" bebop-like piece that was centered on the bandleader's notes-a most perfect way to end one a highly memorable evening. ”

“This has been a great year for the “Chief” (George Coleman Sr.) as he is to be honored for his contributions in Jazz by the city of Memphis. The Mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, the honorable A.C. Wharton Jr. has chosen to venerate its hometown hero George Coleman as an inductee into the inaugural class of the “Memphis Music Hall of Fame”, on November 29, 2012. The class is a spectacular one with Blues legend, B.B. King, Big Band Legend, Jimmy Lunceford and Rock and Roll legend, Elvis Presley among its honorees.”

“George Coleman's enfolding tenor saxophone tone is the embodiment of the endangered old school sound. His warm organically bluesy embrace invites the listener to sit closer, whether this Memphis man is picking spontaneously from the standards book or maybe selecting one of his own compositions. Actually, Coleman grew up down south, getting his first big break with BB King, but he has now been ensconced in New York City for just over 50 years.”

“George Coleman Sr. Interview for Jazz Inside Magazine - In the interview with George Coleman, the saxophonist, who has recorded and performed with Miles Davis, Max Roach, Chet Baker and others, commented on the controversy about his playing inside and out and eventually leaving Miles’ band: “When [Miles] wouldn’t show, I would be left out front. And a lot of people thought I was Miles Davis, if you can believe that...They would come to me at the end of the set, after the show when he hadn’t shown on the gig at all ….they’d say,“Oh, Mr. Davis, that was so beautiful. I really enjoyed it.” They thought I was Miles Davis!””

““George Coleman’s performance at Jazz Standard February 4th was a reminder that masters walk among us. Coleman is one of those legacy players whom a jazz head will love simply for all the classic music he helped to create. If we are lucky, we get to hear the mastery of an instrument and gain greater wisdom.””