Michelle Coltrane

Michelle Coltrane was born in Paris, France, and is the only daughter of Alice and John Coltrane. While living in Japan Michelle worked as a DJ. She performed and arranged background vocals for prominent artists. Eventually, finding work in voiceovers, Michelle was featured on two Chevrolet commercials. She was also hired to write a song for the theme park called “Color the Night” which was featured at Space World Amusement Park in Japan.

She has toured the US and France as a soloist, and has performed with such artists as Kenny Kirkland, Jeff Watts, Ronnie Laws, Billy Childs, Jack DeJohnette, Marvin Smitty Smith, Reggie Workman, The Gap Band and with the McCoy Tyner Trio at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Her first CD, I Think of You, is a classic and contemporary jazz collaboration with musician and composer Scott Hiltzik. The recording was well received by Jazz Times and won a YES Award, presented by blues artist Barbara Morrison. Michelle was a featured performer at the 2013 Panama Jazz Festival, and recent appearances include shows at The John Ford Amphitheater in Los Angeles, The Miami Jazz Festival, Vibratos in Bel Air Ca., H. O. M. E. (House of Music & Entertainment) Beverly Hills, Ca., Bar 1912 in Beverly Hills, Ca. and Yoshi's Jazz Club,Oakland Ca.

Michelle honed her skills as an Emcee to many John Coltrane Scholarship events at the Wiltern Theatre and The House of Blues in Los Angeles. During the late 1990s Michelle co-hosted a radio program on 90.7 FM for 5 years, “Straight No Chaser” with Maggie Le Pique, interviewing artists such as Charlie Haden, Alice Coltrane, Ravi Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, Elvin Jones, Stanley Clarke and many others.

Michelle’s new band is a collaboration with Shea Welsh, guitarist and MD. Michelle and Shea have composed new material and are arranging new and classic standards to create the band's unique modern and retro sound. Some of the new musicians they have been working with are Ryan Cross, Tim Lefebvre, Cameron Graves, and Kamasi Washington.