Cecilia Coleman

Cecilia Coleman, who leads an invigorating quintet and ranks among skilled pianist-composers whose writing grew steadily more distinctive year after year, appears often at clubs throughout Los Angeles. She first took up the piano at age six. Following her college graduation in 1986, she worked in the L.A. region with Charlie Shoemake, Phil Upchurch, Shelley Moore, and others while holding membership in the Benn Clatworthy Quartet, which recorded for Discovery, from 1987 to 1991. Coleman issued her initial leader date on the L.A.P. label and, after assembling her quintet—trumpeter Steve Huffsteter, Andy Suzuki on reeds, bassist Dean Taba, and drummer Kendall Kay—cut two CDs for Resurgent showcasing both her piano work and inventive writing.