His Life's Work
Three remarkable albums show the breadth of Coleman’s talent.
The newly released Sing You a Brand New Song is a musical statement two decades in the making. But Coleman also recorded two earlier albums that demonstrate the full range of his talent and the breadth of his musical interests. In 2000, Coleman teamed up with trumpeter Jeff McSpadden to record The Right Move as The Salt Brothers. And in 2006., Coleman released Natural High. These three albums are distinct musical expressions from an artist exploring the limits of his ambition. All three albums can be purchased here and accessed on streaming services.
Records
Sing You a Brand New Song
Sing You a Brand New Song arrives 15 years after Coleman’s death. Composed of original songs and one cover (James Taylor’s ‘Fire and Rain’), the album provides a remarkable glimpse into his life, talent, and artistry. The final tracks are based on initial recordings Coleman made over a 10-year period in his life. Produced by the legendary Barry Miles and engineered by Ron DiCesare, Coleman’s original guitar-and-vocal recordings are complemented by later contributions from guest stars including Chuck Mangione, James Taylor, Larry Goldings, and Jeanie Bryson. Sing You a Brand New Song is the complete Coleman Mellett experience – available to the public for the very first time.
The Right Move
In 1999, Coleman teamed up with trumpeter Jeff McSpadden’s for The Right Move, their lone album as The Salt Brothers. After workshopping material in clubs, they jumped into Coyote Studios in Brooklyn to record the album The music showcases their influences, musicality and compositional prowess with a lineup that included Ted Brancato (keyboard), Adam Small (electric bass), Rudy Petschauer (drums), Mike Jacobsen (percussion), Mark Taylor (tenor sax, flute), Avi Lebo (trombone), and guest vocalist Jeanie Bryson. One of the album’s highlights is a track called “You Got Me Too”, a duet sung by Jeanie and Coleman that he wrote specifically for her.
Natural High
Recorded entirely in Coleman and Jeanie’s studio above their garage, Natural High is Coleman’s solo guitar record. Playing classical, electric, and 12-string guitars, the material ranges from classics by Stevie Wonder (‘Hey Love’) to lesser-known gems like the title track, ‘Natural High.’ Coleman recorded these tracks in preparation for his performance at the 2006 Guinness Jazz Festival, and every track exudes his quiet but confident spirit. As he weaves his guitars around intricate arrangements and beautifully simple songs alike, he takes the listener on a journey far beyond the New Jersey home in which it was recorded.
Snapshots
