| Dolo Coker | |
| Birth Place: | Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Birth Date: | 16 November 1927 |
| Instrument: | Piano |
| Genre: | Jazz |
| Occupation: | Musician, composer |
| Label: | Xanadu |
| Associated Acts: | Blue Mitchell, Art Pepper |
Charles Mitchell "Dolo" Coker (November 16, 1927 – April 13, 1983) was a jazz pianist and composer who recorded four albums for Xanadu Records and extensively as a sideman, for artists like Sonny Stitt, Gene Ammons, Lou Donaldson, Art Pepper, Philly Joe Jones, and Dexter Gordon.[1]
Charles Mitchell "Dolo" Coker was born in Hartford, Connecticut on November 16, 1927, raised in both Philadelphia and Florence, South Carolina. The first musical instruments Coker played in childhood were the C-melody and alto saxophones, learning them at a school in Camden, South Carolina. By the age of thirteen he was starting to play piano. Coker moved to Philadelphia, where he studied piano at the Landis School of Music and at Orenstein's Conservatory. Coker also played some shows on piano for Jimmy Heath while in Philadelphia.
He was also a member of the Frank Morgan Quartet (with Flip Greene on bass and Larance Marable on drums).
Coker did not record his own album as a leader until 1976, when he recorded his debut Dolo! with Blue Mitchell, Harold Land, Leroy Vinnegar and Frank Butler. That following day he recorded California Hard for Xanadu Records, with Art Pepper replacing Harold Land on sax. Following California Hard were Third Down and All Alone. He continued to work as a sideman for other artists until he died of cancer at the age of fifty-five on April 13, 1983.
Coker's nickname is sometimes misspelt "Dodo" in sleeve notes and books on jazz.
| Year recorded | Title | Label | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Dolo! | Xanadu | One track trio, with Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Frank Butler (drums); most tracks quintet, with Blue Mitchell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Harold Land (tenor sax) added | |
| 1976 | California Hard | Xanadu | Quintet, with Blue Mitchell (trumpet, flugelhorn), Art Pepper (alto sax, tenor sax), Leroy Vinnegar (bass guitar), Frank Butler (drums) | |
| 1977 | Third Down | Xanadu | Most tracks trio, with Leroy Vinnegar (bass guitar), Frank Butler (drums); two tracks quartet, with Harry Edison (trumpet) added | |
| 1979 | All Alone | Xanadu | Solo piano | |
| 1980 | Xanadu in Africa | Xanadu | Quintet, co-led with Al Cohn and Billy Mitchell (tenor sax), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Frank Butler (drums); in concert | |
| 1980 | Night Flight to Dakar | Xanadu | Quintet, co-led with Al Cohn and Billy Mitchell (tenor sax), Leroy Vinnegar (bass), Frank Butler (drums); in concert |
With Frank Butler
With Junior Cook
With Sonny Criss
With Harry Edison
With Teddy Edwards
With Dexter Gordon
With Philly Joe Jones
With Les McCann
With Art Pepper
With Red Rodney
With Sonny Stitt