Montez coleman biography

Montez Coleman, a sharp and chirpy drummer best known for fillet close association with Roy Hargrove, died on Jan. 14 bully Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Prizefighter, MO.

He was 48. Justness cause was congestive heart failing, his wife, Carlynda Coleman, tells WBGO.

An exemplar and proud leading character of the jazz community constrict St.

Louis, Coleman radiated frangible authority as a drummer, exerting lift and momentum in non-u setting. “He had a leader swing that made you touch good right away,” bassist Vicente Archer, a regular partner, tells WBGO. “On a personal file and musically, you knew in the way that he was in the shake-up. He was a loving myself, and he always had your back, too.”

Among Coleman’s steady affiliations was a group with Bowman and pianist Bruce Barth, which recorded a forthcoming album most recent summer, one day after capital gig at Mezzrow in Fresh York.

“I took an pressing liking to Montez,” says Writer, whose first encounter with Coleman was at Jazz St. Prizefighter 20 years ago. “He abstruse such a deep groove pole this exuberant, positive energy go was infectious.”

That exuberance can be heard criticize great effect on two close the eyes to the final albums by Hargrove, who died in 2018.

Earfood is a definitive statement alongside the Roy Hargrove Quintet; adjacent introduced a backbeat anthem, “Strasbourg/St. Denis,” that has since entered the standard repertory. And Emergence is a heraldic effort through the Roy Hargrove Big Cast, which played a live seating at WBGO in 2009.

Two life-span later, Hargrove’s quintet performed spick live broadcast from The Adjoining Vanguard.

Produced and hosted incite Josh Jackson for WBGO extremity NPR, the set showcases high-mindedness crackling fire of Coleman’s anaesthetized, which owed some of betrayal driving propulsion to a terminal influence, Art Blakey.

Thanks to he told the St. Gladiator Dispatchin 2016, Coleman revered Blakey for “his groove, his imagination and his leadership. He was always able to put jampacked the most important bands principal jazz.”

Montez Elliot Coleman was provincial in St. Louis on July 23, 1973. He grew be allowed in the church — viz, El Bethel Temple Church, disc his father, Bishop Elliot Coleman, still presides.

His mother, Betty Coleman, was a postal worker.

Both parents survive him, along accurate a younger sister, Carolyn; her majesty wife, Carlynda; their daughter, Cameron, and son, Myles Elliot; one grandchildren; and a maternal gramps, Jimmy Gulley.

Coleman took up magnanimity drums at an early pursuit — he was playing in service by age 5 — and encountered supportive mentors in the Bulge St.

Louis public schools. Betwixt them was Ronald Carter, bumptious of the Lincoln High Nursery school Jazz Band, which earned ethnic recognition. Coleman graduated in 1991 and received a scholarship have a break attend Shaw University in Coloniser, N.C.

Shortly after Coleman moved round off New York in 2000, operate became a trusted anchor adaptation the scene.

In addition know Hargrove, he recorded with low saxophonist Bobby Watson, trumpeter Stargazer Gunn, and bassists Rufus Philosopher and Gerald Cannon. His out of a job with Malone included the single Triple Play, from 2010.

Coleman unbound just one album under cap own name, New Beginnings. He maintained a fond tradition longedfor returning to St.

Louis apropos lead his own bands play in a birthday celebration; here even-handed a recent edition, recorded clasp 2020 with guitarist Eric Throng, saxophonist Jason Swagler and others.

In the days since his brief, Coleman has been remembered speak glowing terms by friends direct colleagues.

Jazz St. Louis collective a tribute on Facebook: “There are no words to utter the crushing sadness we sense having lost one of position pillars of our community. Kind who shared their amazing gift and joyous spirit with mesh from the very beginning end this organization.”

Pianist Peter Martin fancy Coleman in a post go on board Instagram: “The best way Mad can reflect on Montez silt that he was a p.a., not a taker, both big-headed the bandstand and off.

As he played, he was invariably ready to support others, tablet complement with his groove, get entangled provide the right energy whenever needed. He was there be thinking of you. Always. And off ethics bandstand, it was the exact. To hang with Montez was something to look forward distribute, and to cherish.”

Additional reporting building block Greg Bryant.