Born on February 26, 1960, in Cheltenham, England, Jaz Coleman’s life and career span multiple artistic disciplines, marked by his deep intellectual curiosity and diverse talents. The son of an English father and an Anglo-Indian mother, Coleman’s musical journey began at the age of 4 when he started playing the violin. He continued his studies in piano and violin under Eric Coleridge, head of music at Cheltenham College, until the age of 17. Coleman was also a member of several cathedral choirs in England before founding the legendary post-punk band Killing Joke in 1978.

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Beyond his iconic work with Killing Joke, Coleman has built a distinguished parallel career in classical music. While continuing his work with the band, he dedicated time to studying classical composition and conducting, eventually collaborating with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras. His classical career earned him high praise, with conductor Klaus Tennstedt referring to him as “a new Mahler.” Coleman’s classical works are known for their dramatic intensity, blending orchestral sophistication with raw emotional depth.

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Coleman’s notable classical works include Magna Invocatio – A Gnostic Mass inspired by the sublime music of Killing Joke (2019), a powerful orchestral and choral piece recorded with Russia's St. Petersburg Philharmonic. Magna Invocatio is both an artistic culmination of Coleman’s classical journey and a profound nod to his roots in Killing Joke, weaving together rock’s dark energy and classical sophistication. The album debuted at #13 on the UK Classical Music charts, solidifying Coleman’s place as a bridge between classical and alternative music.

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He has also released several successful symphonic rock albums, including Us and Them: Symphonic Pink Floyd (1995), which topped the Billboard Classical Crossover chart for 35 weeks, Kashmir: Symphonic Led Zeppelin, and Riders on the Storm: The Doors Concerto (1999). His earlier works, such as Songs from The Victorious City (1990), a collaboration with Anne Dudley, further display his versatility across genres.