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A mellow-toned swing trumpeter with a distinctive sound and a lyrical style, Bill Coleman was a consistent if never particularly famous musician. In 1927, he went to New York with <a href="spotify:artist:0yO6uTEc4R5ORLojMgfVj8">Cecil</a> and Lloyd Scott's band, with whom he made his recording debut. He worked with <a href="spotify:artist:2QYQ1OaqqulNz8o2c80ViP">Luis Russell</a> (1929-1932) and Charlie Johnson, and then in 1933 traveled to France with <a href="spotify:artist:4tdVYQWfsBth04tc1mmQ23">Lucky Millinder</a>. Coleman recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:0DYWCXTkNqGFZIf67SrWEa">Fats Waller</a> (1934) and played with <a href="spotify:artist:6RcS0R1ApjQDjEnMMMeoVa">Teddy Hill's Orchestra</a> (1934-1935), but then moved to France for the first time in 1935. While overseas, he recorded frequently as a leader (really coming into his own), with <a href="spotify:artist:5BQYcySVoV2sUdCjgX7CFC">Willie Lewis' Orchestra</a>, and on dates with <a href="spotify:artist:5Z1XZyEFY0dewG8faEIiEx">Django Reinhardt</a>. He ventured as far as Bombay, and spent 1938-1940 in Egypt with <a href="spotify:artist:1Gaouru0fFNdgR0jhnZCHr">Herman Chittison</a>. Returning to New York, Coleman played with <a href="spotify:artist:5dlCVmfRbWVGOJYHzGyk32">Benny Carter</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0tg5uVI4VjzZOFzBryJZii">Teddy Wilson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6lDzuLTyt5ewY3FLfX1smg">Andy Kirk</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:6hrEc1XqVcGLK0Di6zVADR">Mary Lou Williams</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:35MId59wx5Xyn6zlxGOfJy">John Kirby</a> during 1940-1945, and recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:05E3NBxNMdnrPtxF9oraJm">Lester Young</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:0JM134st8VY7Ld9T2wQiH0">Coleman Hawkins</a> (both in 1943). However, he preferred life in Europe and, after a period with groups led by <a href="spotify:artist:27mxmjGJOVEKUV3VaHBkbj">Sy Oliver</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1ovp96z0Med6m1qAN3f7Qt">Billy Kyle</a>, in 1948, Coleman moved permanently back to France, staying active and recording fairly regularly up until his death in 1981. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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