Johnny Coles

John Coles (July 3, 1926 – December 21, 1997) was an American jazz trumpeter.

Early life
Coles was born in Trenton, New Jersey, on July 3, 1926. He grew up in Philadelphia and was self-taught on trumpet.

Later life and career
Coles spent his early career playing with R&B groups, including those of Eddie Vinson (1948–1951), Bull Moose Jackson (1952), and Earl Bostic (1955–1956). He was with James Moody from 1956 to 1958, and played with Gil Evans's orchestra between 1958 and 1964, including for the album Out of the Cool. After this, he spent time with Charles Mingus in his sextet, which also included Eric Dolphy, Clifford Jordan, Jaki Byard, and Dannie Richmond. Following this he played with Herbie Hancock (1968–1969), Ray Charles (1969–1971), Duke Ellington (1971–1974), Art Blakey (1976), Dameronia, Mingus Dynasty, and the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction of Thad Jones (1985–1986).

In 1985, Coles settled in the San Francisco Bay Area; he recorded with Frank Morgan and Chico Freeman the following year. After his return to Philadelphia in 1989, he again worked with Morgan and was part of Gene Harris's Philip Morris Superband. In 1990, Coles recorded with Charles Earland and Buck Hill. Coles recorded as a leader several times over the course of his career. He died of cancer on December 21, 1997, in Philadelphia.

As leader

 * The Warm Sound (Epic, 1961)
 * Little Johnny C (Blue Note, 1963)
 * Katumbo (Dance) (Mainstream, 1971)
 * New Morning (Criss Cross Jazz, 1982)
 * Two at the Top (Uptown, 1983) with Frank Wess

As sideman
With Geri Allen With Tina Brooks With Ray Crawford
 * Some Aspects of Water (Storyville, 1996)
 * The Waiting Game (Blue Note, 1961)


 * I Know Pres [aka Smooth Groove] (Candid, 1961 [1971])

With Gil Evans With Booker Ervin With Astrud Gilberto With Grant Green With Herbie Hancock With Buck Hill With Etta Jones With Philly Joe Jones Dameronia With Charles Mingus With James Moody With Frank Morgan With Horace Parlan With Duke Pearson With A. K. Salim
 * New Bottle Old Wine (World Pacific, 1958)
 * Great Jazz Standards (World Pacific, 1959)
 * Out of the Cool (Impulse!, 1960)
 * The Individualism of Gil Evans (Verve, 1964)
 * Blues in Orbit (Enja, 1971)
 * Where Flamingos Fly (Artists House, 1971 [1981])
 * Bud and Bird (Electric Bird/King, 1986 [1987])
 * Farewell (Evidence, 1986 [1992])
 * Booker 'n' Brass (Pacific Jazz, 1967)
 * Look to the Rainbow (Verve, 1966)
 * Am I Blue (Blue Note, 1962)
 * The Prisoner (Blue Note, 1969)
 * Fat Albert Rotunda (Warner Bros., 1969)
 * The Buck Stops Here (Muse, 1992)
 * Christmas with Etta Jones (Muse, 1990)
 * To Tadd with Love (Uptown, 1982)
 * Charles Mingus Sextet with Eric Dolphy Cornell 1964 (Blue Note, 1964 [2007])
 * Town Hall Concert (Fantasy, 1964)
 * Revenge! (Revenge, 1964 [1996])
 * The Great Concert of Charles Mingus (America, 1964)
 * Hope so Eric Volume 1 Charles Mingus Orchestra, with Eric Dolphy 1964 (Italy: Ingo, 1964)
 * Flute 'n the Blues (Argo, 1956)
 * Moody's Mood for Love (Argo, 1956)
 * James Moody (Argo, 1959)
 * Great Day (Argo, 1963)
 * The Blues and Other Colors (Milestone, 1969)
 * Bebop Lives! (Contemporary, 1987)
 * Happy Frame of Mind (Blue Note, 1963; first issued as part of the double LP Back from the Gig by Booker Ervin, 1976)
 * Hush! (Jazzline, 1962)
 * Honeybuns (Atlantic, 1965)
 * Prairie Dog (Atlantic, 1966)
 * Stable Mates (Savoy, 1957)
 * Afro-Soul/Drum Orgy (Prestige, 1965)