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A fine trumpeter with a distinctive cry, Johnny Coles long had the ability to say a lot with a few notes. He played with a few top R&B bands, including <a href="spotify:artist:0R3bGv703d8JFKdZxsHr58">Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson</a> (1948-1951), <a href="spotify:artist:7LvQ7F9il2LSzH7iwR4N2p">Bull Moose Jackson</a> (1952), and <a href="spotify:artist:3uPH2E6G8gBlatMzfQR4lL">Earl Bostic</a> (1955-1956); was with <a href="spotify:artist:4aEpM8RuVFDhH7ry8TUn4M">James Moody</a>'s group (1956-1958); and appeared on several <a href="spotify:artist:7g9DeYASD3RzlT4kDchsQZ">Gil Evans</a> records between 1958-1964. Probably his most significant association was with the 1964 <a href="spotify:artist:1W8TbFzNS15VwsempfY12H">Charles Mingus Sextet</a> that toured Europe. Also in the group were <a href="spotify:artist:6rxxu32JCGDpKKMPHxnSJp">Eric Dolphy</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0oJCbLnXR9ZfTkwxO9tVNn">Clifford Jordan</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:7pZNp3BIssAHQ9jJZssq3Y">Jaki Byard</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:7hXrcAiSqARlwCR7Ay6ERw">Dannie Richmond</a>. Coles can be seen holding his own against those giants on a European television show (available on a Shanachie video), but he had to leave the tour halfway through due to a sudden illness. He also played with <a href="spotify:artist:2ZvrvbQNrHKwjT7qfGFFUW">Herbie Hancock</a>'s sextet (1968-1969), <a href="spotify:artist:1eYhYunlNJlDoQhtYBvPsi">Ray Charles</a> (1969-1971), <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington</a> (1971-1974), <a href="spotify:artist:6QQuESLtKhAOcLW2TeWC2t">Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers</a> (briefly in 1976), <a href="spotify:artist:7DGzbNWhjJM0SQiQ2wrhnz">Dameronia</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:76RVMB4iAPdPJvuTFPkHQ1">Mingus Dynasty</a>, and the <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a> band when it was under <a href="spotify:artist:6DbqS0X8cSFOPGsvyze2yh">Thad Jones</a>' leadership (1985-1986), but fame managed to elude him. Coles led sessions through the years for Epic, Blue Note, Mainstream, and finally for Criss Cross, before passing away from cancer. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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