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
Cecil and
Lloyd Scott's band, with whom he made his recording debut. He worked with
Luis Russell (1929-1932) and
Charlie Johnson, and then in 1933 traveled to France with
Lucky Millinder.
Coleman recorded with
Fats Waller (1934) and played with
Teddy Hill's Orchestra (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
Willie Lewis' Orchestra, and on dates with
Django Reinhardt. He ventured as far as Bombay, and spent 1938-1940 in Egypt with
Herman Chittison. Returning to New York,
Coleman played with
Benny Carter,
Teddy Wilson,
Andy Kirk,
Mary Lou Williams, and
John Kirby during 1940-1945, and recorded with
Lester Young and
Coleman Hawkins (both in 1943). However, he preferred life in Europe and, after a period with groups led by
Sy Oliver and
Billy Kyle, in 1948,
Coleman moved permanently back to France, staying active and recording fairly regularly up until his death in 1981. ~ Scott Yanow