“We always think of this record
as being like it could have been
a greatest hits of someone who
had been recording for 30 years,
but yet this is his first try,” Jeanie
said. “These are the only 12 songs
he had and every one is a strong
song. How could this guy who
started writing at 25 and was all
about jazz - how could he come
up with these catchy, wonder-
ful, clever songs? Where did this
come from? The film had to be
about the music. It had to be
about the musicians. It had to
show a little vignette about every
song to show where it comes from
so people could get to know him.
They won’t be able to see him in
concert; they won’t be able to see
his smile on stage; I think the mov-
ie, to me, just gives such a won-
derful glimpse into who he was.”
Watching the film was initially
gut-wrenching for Jeanie who
says it didn’t become something
she could enjoy for a long time.
Jeanie and Coley were extremely
close. Besides being married,
they worked together and trav-
eled together. Jeanie had first
met him at the Cape May Jazz
Watch the Coleman Mellett Trio perform In Metuchen
NJ STAGE - ISSUE 59
INDEX
NEXT ARTICLE
88