Chris Coles

Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, saxophonist Christopher J. Coles has established himself as one of Northeast Ohio's most accomplished and socially conscious jazz artists. Based in the Greater Akron area, Coles has built a multifaceted career that encompasses performance, education, composition, and community engagement.

Coles serves on the faculty of several prestigious institutions, including Kent State University, Aurora School of Music, and Tri-C Creative Arts Academy, where he shares his expertise with the next generation of musicians. His educational background is equally impressive, holding a bachelor's degree in performance from Youngstown State University, where he studied extensively with renowned musicians James Umble, Kent Englehardt, and David Morgan, and a master's degree in performance from the University of Akron.

A pivotal moment in Coles' artistic development came at the 2015 Banff Workshop for Jazz and Creative Music, where he had the distinct honor of studying with many influential jazz pioneers, including Vijay Iyer, Mark Turner, Imani Izuri, Tia Fuller, Billy Hart, Ingrid Jensen, Zakir Hussain, Somi, Vosany Terry, and Miles Okazaki, among others. This intensive experience exposed him to cutting-edge approaches to jazz and improvised music, broadening his artistic perspective and informing his future work.

Coles' commitment to addressing social issues through his art is exemplified by his composition "Nine Lives," which earned him the 2017 Knight Foundation Arts Challenge in Akron, Ohio. Written in 2015 in memory of the nine lives lost at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, this approximately 40-minute multimedia work demonstrates Coles' ability to create meaningful art that addresses contemporary social issues. The piece features collaborations with other art forms including dance, animation, and spoken word, showcasing his interdisciplinary approach to music-making.

As a performer, Coles regularly appears with many distinguished local ensembles, including Black Dog Octet, Red Rhinoceros Revival Octet, Bluelight, The Admirables, Sam Blakeslee Large Group, and The Stokes Legacy Jazz Orchestra. His versatility and musicianship have made him a sought-after collaborator throughout the region's vibrant jazz scene.

Coles leads his own jazz quartet, Gleam, which released its debut album in summer 2018, showcasing his skills as both a leader and composer. The group serves as a primary vehicle for his artistic vision and original compositions.

His performance experience includes collaborations with many notable local and international jazz musicians such as Eddie Baccus Sr., Melvin Burks, Kenny Davis, Glenn Holmes, Bill Ransom, Cecil Rucker, Grammy Award winner Slide Hampton, Ralph Lalama, and Allen Vizzutti. These associations speak to his high level of musicianship and his standing within the jazz community.

International recognition came in 2010 when Coles was selected to perform with the Ohio Youth Jazz Orchestra in Italy, where he shared the stage with Wessell Anderson, lead alto saxophonist for the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. This experience provided him with exposure to world-class musicians and international audiences.

Coles has performed at numerous prestigious festivals and conferences, including the Tri-C Jazz Fest, Rubber City Jazz Fest, North American Saxophone Alliance Conference, and Navy Band International Saxophone Symposium. His appearance at these events demonstrates his recognition within both regional and national jazz communities.

A notable highlight of his recording career came when he premiered a commissioned work by John Hollenbeck at the Whitney Art Museum Composers Workshop and subsequently recorded the piece for Hollenbeck's album "Rainbow Jimmies," released in 2009. This collaboration with one of contemporary jazz's most innovative composers showcases Coles' ability to interpret complex, cutting-edge music.

Christopher J. Coles represents the modern jazz musician: technically proficient, socially conscious, educationally committed, and artistically adventurous. Through his performing, teaching, and composing, he continues to contribute to the rich musical landscape of Northeast Ohio while addressing important social issues through his art.