Known as a bassist with extraordinary musical
scope, Don Coffman is equally at home in both the jazz and classical idioms. His mastery of compositional
structure and improvisation enables him to
initiate and respond to whatever direction
the music is taking.
Currently Associate Chairman of the Jazz
Department and Professor of Jazz Bass Studies
at the University of Miami (Florida), Don's list of former students
include a "who's who" in the professional
music industry. Some of these students include: Mark Egan (Bassist with Pat Metheny), Curtis Lundy (Bassist with Betty Carter & Pharoh Sander), Frank Gravis, (Bassist with Chuck Mangione & Herbie Mann), Ben Brown (Bassist for Dizzy Gillespie), Tim Smith (Bassist with Bill Evans), Jorge Casas (Bassist with Gloria Estefan & The Miami Sound Machine), and many others.
Don received both his Bachelor and Master
Degrees from the University of Miami (Florida) and is a member of the NAJE, ISB and AFM. His recording credits include recordings
with Ira Sullivan, Gary Campbell and Pete Minger, Jerry Coker, Ron Miller and Steve Bagby, Nestor Torres and on the soundtrack of the movie "Trading Hearts" with Beverly D'Angelo and Raoul Julia.
His professional performance credits include
concert performances with such artists as: Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder, Sammy Davis, Jr.,
Gregory Hines, Tony Bennett, Marvin Hamlisch,
Anthony Newly, Ben Vereen, Robert Goulet,
Marvin Gaye, Michel Legrand and The Smothers
Brothers just to name a few. He has also performed
with jazz artists such as: Joe Pass, Freddie Hubbard, Bill Evans, Phil
Woods, Clark Terry, Eddie Higgins, Chet Baker,
Pat Metheny and many others.
As an author, Don's works include Volumes1
& 2 of the "Advancing Jazz-Pop-Rock Guitarist" and the bass-guitar editions of "The Complete Guide for the Guitar" the original text and the "Advancing Classical Guitarist".
Don is also the Bass-Guitar Camp Director now in it's 18th year for the University
of Miami's "Guitar, Bass-Guitar, and Drumset"
Camp. Don is a Founding Member of the Camp Faculty.
