Innovative drummer and East St. Louis native Montez Coleman became a local star early on, which soon led to him garnering wider attention. By the time he was a college freshman, Coleman had performed professionally, both nationally and internationally, working in a multitude of musical, social and cultural settings.

   In 1999, Coleman relocated to New York where he crossed paths with an array of top-tier percussionists, people such as Lewis Nash, Grady Tate and Jeff ‘Tain Watts. In 2005 he accepted an invitation to join trumpeter Roy Hargrove’s Quintet, also finding work with guitarist Russell Malone among many others including, but not limited to Rufus Reid, Bobby Watson, Wynton Marsalis, Gerald Cannon and Bruce Barth; in fact his last Jazz Series appearance was with the Barth at Murry’s four years ago in February 2017. After leaving Hargrove, Coleman pursued a career as a bandleader, recording his first CD as such in collaboration with respected tenor saxophonist and fellow St. Louisan Willie Akins.

   “When Montez Coleman is on stage playing drums, he radiates an infectious enthusiasm for the music that’s impossible to miss, wrote veteran critic Terry Perkins, adding, ”And when the band sync’s into slinky, irresistible groove – usually featuring Coleman’s energetic, in-the-pocket drumming – that’s when he lets loose with a huge grin that inspires smiles in the audience as well as his fellow musicians.”

   Eventually, Coleman decided to return to St. Louis and use it as his geographical jumping-off point for national/international tours, saying “[I wanted to] be on the scene [here] every day. I feel like the city will always accept me.” Asked if he considered himself a St. Louis musician or a musician who happens to live in St. Louis, Coleman replied, “I consider myself a musician that happens to live in St Louis. I still get out on the road and play with different people; I’m just based in St. Louis.

Sunday, Feb. 21, 2021

Murry's

Doors: 6 | Start: 7

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