MUS 343 Superheroes

#1 Buddy Bolden

1877-1931

Considered as first jazz musician/bandleader, no recordings

Institutionalized In 1907

“Funky Butt'“ signature tune

#2 Jelly Roll Morton

1890 - 1941

Pianist, composer, arranger

“jelly Roll Blues”

Self proclaimed “originator of Jazz”

“Red Hot Peppers” in CHI & NY

1st important Jazz Composer

#3 Sidney Bechet

1897 - 1959

Soprano Sax. Clarinet

One of 1st jazz musicians to play in EU

One of first significant soloist

#4 Louis Armstrong

1901 - 1971

Cornet, Trumpet, Vocals

Played w/ Joe Oliver (1922), Played w/ Fletcher H. in NY

1925 first recordings as leader (Hot Five & Hot Seven - never played live)

“What A Wonderful World” (1968)

#5 Bix B.

1902 - 1931

Influenced by CHI musicians

played w/ Frankie Trumbauer’s band

Harmonically advanced

Died at 28 (alcoholism)

#6 Mary Lou Williams

1901 - 1981

recorded arrangements w/ Andy Kirk 1929 - played in his band till 1942

“Zodiac Suit” 1945

#7 Duke Ellington

1899 - 1974

Greatest Composer

Admired by Ragtime & Stride pianists, first band (1917)

Formed "Washingtonians (1923)

#8 Fletcher H.

1897 - 1952

Bridged early Jazz and Swing era

Employed Louis A., Coleman H., Benny Carter, Don Redman, etc.

Joined Benny Goodman’s orchestra (1939)

#9 Coleman Hawkins

1904 - 1969

Considered first great saxophonist of Jazz

First recordings w/ Mamie Smith & her Jazz Hounds (1922)

Joined Fletcher H. 1934 for EU, returned to U.S. (1939) - “Body and Soul”

#10 Count Basie

1904 - 1984

Played organ in cinemas

Joined Walter Page’s Blue Devils 1928

Formed own band (1935)

Codified swing era rhythm section sounds (Walking bass, “Freddie Green” style guitar

#11 Benny Goodman

• 1909 - 1986

•  clarinet at 10 

• in a band w/ Bix at 14 

• Associated w/ Austin high gang

• Started own big bands in 1934

• Used Fletcher Henderson Arrangements - A/B

• Often rehearsed band w/out rhythm section

#12 Art Tatum

• 1909-1956

• 85% blind from infant cataracts 

• influenced by Earl Hines

• Won a cutting contest w/ above mentioned stride pianists in 1933;  rise to stardom 

• Harmonic advancements presaged bebop, but he didn't embrace the new style

#13 Lester Young

• 1901-1959 

• Played w/ the Blue Devils, Bennie Moten, Joe Oliver in early 30’s

• Joined Count Basie in 1933

• Hired by Fletcher H. to replace Hawkins in 1934 

• Famous recordings w/ Billie Holiday- called him “Prez”

• one of top 3 most influential saxophonists in jazz (along w/ Hawkins & John Coltrane) - influenced Charlie Parker

#14 Billie Holiday

• 1915-1959 “Lady Day”

• Recorded w/ Benny Goodman in 1933 at 18yo - Teddy Wilson 1935-1942 

• Joined Basie in 1937

• Artie Shaw in 1938- one of the first back women featured w/ white band 

• Began Engagement at Café Society village 1939- b/c popular w/ “intellectuals” 

• “Strange Fruit” - perhaps most famous performance

#15 Ella Fitzgerald

• 1917-1996

• 1934– amateur night @ the Apollo–wowed crowed– Benny Carter in band

• Joined Chick Webb in 1935– took over after Chick died (1939)

• “A Tisket A Tasket” sold over 1M copies

• Foremost practitioner of “scat” signing

#16 Frank Sinatra

• 1915-1998 

• Arrested (1938) for “adultery & seduction”

• Joined Tommy Dorsey (1939) 

• Became star @ beginning of the 40’s most through radio- recording bans in effect

#17 Charlie “Bird” Parker

• 1920-1955 

• highly influenced by saxophonist Buster Smith - sax at 11- in local bands by 15 years older

• Joined Jay McShann (1938)

• 1942-44 – played w/ Earl Hines & Billy Eckstine’s big bands w/ Dizzy Gillespie, others– no recordings of these bands – AFM ban of ‘42- ‘44 - jamming at Minton’s in Harlem 

• 1945- fist sides w/ Gillespie- 65 recordings together 

• 1953 Massey Hall concert w/ Gillespie, Migus, Powell, Roach 

• Had been a heroin addict since he was 15 

• morphine addiction – unprofessional behavior – suicide attempts – died 1955

#18 Dizzy Gillespie

• 1917-1993

• Musical Family – started piano at 4

• Roy Eldridge big influence 

• 1935 – moved to Philly – played in Frank Fairfax’s band– took Eldridge’s place

• 1939 -1941 - Cab Calloway’s band- went to work for Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Carter, Charlie Bernet 

• Minton’s in Harlem w/ Monk, Kenny Clarke, Don Byas, Charlie Christian, Parker – Bebop took shape

• Musical director of Billy Eckstine’s big band 1944– bebop big band!

• Led his own bebop big band 1945 -1948  

• Ran for president 1964

#19 Thelonious Monk

• 1917-1982 

• started piano at 6 

• First jazz gigs in late teens – idolized Art Tatum, Ellington, James P. Johnson 

• 1940 – became house pianist at Minton’s playhouse 

• 1944 – joined Hawkins’ band 

• First recordings as leader on Blue Note 1947 w/ Blakey 

• Recorded w/ Davis in 1954 

• Traveled to EU - began an association w/ Baroness Nica de Konigswater 

• Signed by riverside in 1955 - iconic albums

#20 Miles Davis:

• 1926-1991- Most influential jazz musician after Louis A.

• Teacher encouraged him to play w/o vibrato

• 1944– joined Billy Eckstine’s band -  met Parker & Dizzy

• 19yo - 1945-1948 – Parker’s Quintet

• 1948 – started “Birth of the Cool” project

• 1951 –  recorded w/ Rollins, Milt Jackson, Blakey, Horace Silver

• Contributed to “hard bop” movement”

• 1955– damaged vocal chords, gave him his rasp

• Formed “first great quintet” – w/ Coltrane, Red Garfield, Paul Chambers, Philly Joe Jones – Relaxin’, Workin’, Steamin’, Cookin’

• “Second great Quintet” – Wayne Shorter, Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams

#21: Gerry Mulligan

• 1927 - 1996 - baritone saxophone 

• Interested in arranging @ early age; sold charts to Johnny Warrington, Tommy Tucker, Elliot Lawrence 

• 1946- wrote for Gene Krupa’s band 

• Joined Claude Thornhill's band

• 1948-1951- “birth of the cool” - 1951- 1st record as leader “Milligan plays Mulligan 

• 1952 – arranging for Stan Kenton band

• Formed “pianoless” quartet with chet baker, Chico Hamilton & Bob Whitlock 

• Formed influential “Concert Jazz Band” 1960

• Identified w/ “West coast” cool style, although he only lived there a short time

#21A Chet Baker:

• 1929- 1988 

• Played trombone first, enrolled in army 1946 

• I could read music! 

• Re-enrolled in army- stationed at Presidio- San Francisco scene  

• Quartet w/ Mulligan; formed own quartet w/ Russ Freeman

• great vocalist; combined with stunning good looks made him a star  

Doc. Let’s Get Lost; new biopic Born to be Blue w/ Ethan Hawke

#22: Lee Kontiz

• 1927-2020 Died from coronavirus 

• Inspired by Benny Goodman to play clarinet; switched to sax

• First pro gigs with Teddy Powell, Jerry Wald-joined Claude Thornhill 1947 

• “Birth of the Cool” sess.

• First recording as leader 1949 - Joined Stan Kenton in 50’s - Extremely influential improviser

#23: Stan Getz

• 1927-1991

• Joined Jack Teagarden’s band @ 16yo

• Played w/ Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Stan Kenton- joined Woody Herman 1947 

• Member of Woody Herman’s “Four Brothers” along w/ Zoot Sims, Serge Chaloff, Herbie Steward –  also hit w/ “Early Autumn”

• Great bop player, but sound associated him with cool jazz

• Prominent figure in bossa nova craze of 60’s - “Girl from Ipanema” with Astrud Gilberto

#24 Modern Jazz Quartet:

• Orig. John Lewis (1920-2001)

• Percy Heath (1923-2005) replaced Ray Brown; Connie Kay (1927-1994) later replaced kenny clarke 

• Style stressed counterpart (polyphony) & extended forms

• Also collab. w/ Gunther Schuller & others on some “third steam” works

#25 Dave Brubeck:

• 1920-2012 

• Drafted 1942- formed group in military - met Paul Desmond 

•  @ Mills College; few lesson w/ Arnold Schoenberg

• Started recording in 1949 for Records - string of successful LPs fueled by touring colleges

• Signed w/ Columbia Records 1954– featured on cover of Times Magazine – 2nd Jazz musician on cover ( Louis A. was 1st)

• 1959- “time out” - first jazz album to sell more than 1 mill. Copies

#26 Art Blakey:

• 1919-1990

• Started w/ piano–heard Erroll Garner & switched to drums

• 30’s - became Chick Webb’s valet- formed group Lou Williams- played with Henderson

• Played in Billy Eckstine’s band w/ Bird, Diz, etc.

• Traveled to Africa - converted to Islam- Abdullah Ibn Buhaina- “Bu” 

• 1953– A Night at Birdland w/ Silver, Brown, Lou Donaldson, Jymie Merritt

• “The Jazz Messengers” - name for a rehearsal big band that he had in 1947 

• 1955–formed small group w/ Horace–Hank Mobley, Kenny Dorham, Doug Watkins

#27 Horace Silver:

1928 - 2014

• Started w/ Sax. – influenced by Lester Young– switched to piano

• First session. w/ Stan Getz

• W/ Blakey (4yrs)

• Signed with Blue Note records- iconic artist on the label for 25 years 

• Unique compositional & comping style helped to define hard bop

#28 Clifford Brown:

• 1930-1956 

• Started trumpet @ 13

• Dizzy and Fats Navarro big influences - play trumpet 

• Formed Clifford Brown/Max Roach quintet in 1954—great saxophonists included Teddy Edwards; Harold Land; Rollins

• 1956- age 25- died in car accident with Richie Powell and his wife

#29 Sonny Rollins

• b. 1930

• Started sax. @ 13– played w/ Kenny Drew, Art Taylor & Jackie McClean in high school

• Played with J.J Johnson, Bud Powell, Miles, Brown/ Roach Quinent 

• Pianoless trio 1957

• Saxophone Colossus & Tenor Madness- 1956

• Well-known for motivic development. In his solos

• Took famous hiatus 1959- 1962- no recording; practiced on Williamsburg Bridge

#30 John Coltrane:

• 1926-1967

• Played in Navy Jazz band 1945–

• Played in Dizzy’s big band and sextet 1949-1951

• “First great quintet" w/Miles 1955

• recordings w/ Monk 1957–Blue Train

• 1959- giant steps- recorded shortly after kind of Blue session

#31 Cannonball Adderley:

• 1928-1975

• Band director @ Dillard HS in Fort Lauderdale, FL 1948-50

• Moved in NYC in 1955

• Sat in w/ Oscar Pettiford’s group at Cafe Bohemia- called “the next bird”

• Formed quintet/sextet w/ brother Nat - members included: Joe Zawinul, Bobby Timmons, Charles Lloyd, Yusef Lateef

• Many hits- “Mercy Mercy Mercy”, “Dis here” “Jive Samba” “Work song” etc.

32: Charles Mingus

• 1922-1979

• Started on trombone & cello; switched to bass- also formidable pianist 

• Played w/ Louis A., Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo;fired from Ellington’s band;Bird/Gillespie

• “Jazz Workshop” band- Pepper Adams, Jaki Byard, Booker Ervin, John Handy etc. 

• Prolific composer/recorded output - 30 records in 10yrs

• Mingus Ah Um- also released in 1959 

• Transitional figure into free jazz

#33: Joe Herderson

• 1937- 2001

• Went to college with Yusef Lateef and Curtis Fuller  

• Army 1960-62

• Moved to NYC- played on over 30 LPs on the BLue Note labels 

• Prolific composer-many tunes that are now standard (“black Narcissus, “Racordame,” “Inner Urge” etc. 

• Moved more towards modal jazz and some fusion towards end of the 60’s

#34 Ornette Coleman

• B. 1930 - Started playing R&B, some bebop

• Toured w/ silas green, Pee Wee crayton- fired from bands 

• LA- met Don Cherry. Charlie Haden, Billy Higgins 

• 1959- first recording contemporary records

• Nov 1959- opend Five spot NYC- signed by Atlantic Records- shape of jazz to Come 

• Criticized at first

• Recorded album free jazz 1960- two quartets; one on each side of stereo spectrum

• Started playing trumpet & vio

• Downbeat Hall of Fame award 1969

Electronic music 70s - group called Prime Time

#35 Cecil Taylor:

• B. 1929

• 1956- Jazz advance w/ Steve lacy

• Played on Trane LP

• Groups in early 60’s- Units Structures LP on Blue Note 

• “Virtuoso” solo piano concerts

• Helped found “Jazz Composers Guild” w/ Bill Dixon, Carly Bley, other 

• Won Guggenheim & MacArthur Fellowships

#36 Sun Ra:

• Born Herman “Sonny” Blout (1914-67) 

• Played piano - known for electric keyboards 

• Formed song Blount Orchestra” in Birmingham, AL circa mid- 30’s 

• Moved to Chicago after war –played w/ Wynonie Harris;Fletcher H.; Coleman H.

• Mid 50’s - formed Arkestra- saturn Label 

• Movie Space in the Place

• Marshall Allen & Jonn Gilmore long-term members of band

• Started playing w/ pianist McCoy Tyner 1960 - Sax. –influenced by Sidney B.

• 1961- signed w/ Impulse! records - also played w/ Eric Dophy- much Criticism 

• 1962– “Classic” Quartet - Tyner, Jimmy Garrison,, Elvin Jones

• 1964- a love Supreme 

#37 Wayne Shorter:

• B. 1933 - Started @ 16

• Drafted to Army

• Played w/ Horace Silver 1958

• Joined Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers 1959-63 - became musical director

• Miles Davis in “2nd great quinet”- 1964 with Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, Tony Williams- many important compositions 

• Made LPs as leader for Blue Note during 60s - Night Dreamers, Adam’s Apple, Schizophrenia

• Formed fusion group Weather Report w/ Joe Zawinul in 1970

• Formed Wayne Shorter Quartet in 2001 w/ Danilo Perez, John Patitucci and Braian Blade 

• Greatest living jazz improviser and composer?

#38 Eric Dolphy:

• 1928-1964

• Bass Clarinet, alto sax, Flute 

• Played in Chico Hamilton’s group 1958-59 - 5yr association with Charles Mingus 

• Member of Coltrane’s group - “live” @ the Village Vanguard

• 1964- out of Lunch LP w/ Freddie Hubbard, Bobby Hutcherson, Richard Davis, Tony Willams- considered best work

• Died in Berlin 1964 - undiagnosed diabetic

#39 Albert Ayler:

• 1936-70

• Played R&B sax. w/ little walter in early 50’s 

• Joined Army - played w/ Stanley Turrentine

• Moved to Sweden in 1962- recorded played w/ cecil taylor 

• NYC 1963 - recorded for ESP-Disk

• Signed to Impulse in 1966

• Wanted to move in Rock Direction

• Died of apparent suicide

#40: Herbie Hancock

• B. 1940 Chicago - piano @ 7yrs

• First LP as leader 1962 Takin’ Off (Blue Note) - “Watermelon Man”

• Joined Miles 1963- 69 

• Empyrean isles & Maiden Voyage mid 60’s 

• Warner Bros. LPs w/ Billy Hart et al.

• 2008 the Joini Letters-grammy award- album of the year 

• Played here 2 years aog- still going strong

#41: Chick Corea

• B. 1941- Massachusetts

• Father was trumpet plater- started piano at 4- took drums 

• Played w/ Cab Balloway, Blue Mitchell, Mongo Santamaria

• Debut LP tones from Joan’s Bones 1966

• Joined Miles 1968 - electric piano - played on many LPs, including Bitches Brew

• Formed avant-garde fusion group circle; then Return to forever 

• Duets with Gary Burton, Herbie hancock Béla Flecks in 2007 & 2015

#42 Tony Williams:

• 1945- 1997

• Started playing professionally at 13- Joined Miles at 17

• Formed Lifetime in 1969 w/ John McLaughlin & Larry Young (later jack bruce)

• Circa 1975 - The New Tony Williams Lifetime - Allan Holdsworth, Alan Pasqua, Tony Newton

• 1976- VSOP

• Played on Public Image Limited LP- John Lydon from Sex pistols 

• Died - Heart attack in SF after gall bladder surgery

#43 Joe Zawinul:

• 1923 - 2007 – From Austria

• Classically trained - scholarship to Berklee School of Music @ Boston - moved to US 1959

• Met Wayne Shorter in Maynard Ferguson’s band 

• Played on Miles’s in a Silent Way (wrote title track) & Bitches Brew didn't play live with him until 1970 

• Formed Weather Report in 1970 (til mid 80s) - Many records as leader till death (skin cancer)

#44: John Mclaughlin

• B. 1942 England 

• Played with Georgie Fame, Graham Bond, Brain Auger 

• Gave guitar lesson to JImmy Page 

• Debut as leader Extrapolation

• 1969- played on In a Silent Way joined Lifetime

• Mahavishnu Orchestra w/ JerryGoodman (later Jean-Luc Ponty), Jan Hammer, Rick Laird, Bill Cobham

• Mahavishnu- guitar synth

1959:

• Pivotal year in jazz- many important LPs

  • Kind of Blue - Miles Davis

  • Time out-  Dave Brubeck 

  • Mingus Ah Um 

  • Shape of jazz to come- Ornette Coleman 

  • Giant Steps - John Coltrane

  • Blowin’ the Blues Away - Horace Silver

  • Ella Fitzgerald singing the George and Ira Gershwin song book

December - Bill Evans, Scott LaFaro, Paul Motian first trio recording released later as Portrait in Jazz