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Prologue (No. 39)

John Coates, Jr. (1938-2017)

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Pianist, composer and arranger John Coates, Jr. passed away this week.

He came from a show biz family and by 12 was a member of the musician's Union. By 14 he was gigging professionally.

At 16, he found his long term musical home at the Deer Head Inn in the Poconos, in the mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania, where a young Keith Jarrett heard him and was inspired.

Coates recorded his first jazz album at 17 for Savoy.

Not every great jazz musician is famous.

When asked about Coates, Phil Woods summed the situation up this way:

“People don’t know how good John Coates is."

Mastering music and developing a public career and international reputation are two very different undertakings.

Coates chose to stay close to home and play.

I wish we had a well produced video of him, but we don't so his recordings will have to suffice.

That's how we grow.

Thanks!