Jazz Legends

Jackie McLean (Round 2!)

John Lenwood “Jackie” McClean (born May 17, 1931) grew up in the same neighborhood in Harlem that was home to Sonny Rollins, Bud Powell and Thelonius Monk, and soon fell under the sway of the Bebop Revolution, particularly as espoused by Charlie Parker. Throughout his career, Jackie kept his ears open to new developments in the music, while still remaining grounded in the bebop vocabulary of his youth, he recorded with many more adventuresome players, Ornette Coleman and Woody Shaw to name two. He became a well respected professor at Hart School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut and produced many talented students who have gone on to distinguished careers in jazz.

Irving Berlin & Blue Skies

[Note: Stay tuned at the end to hear the band play Blue Skies!]
It has been said that Irving Berlin didn’t write American music ... he was American music. Indeed, the scope and length of his career, and his vast body of work in a variety of musical contexts give credence to this argument. One of the very few songwriters of his generation who wrote his own lyrics as well as the music, it is staggering to realize that English wasn’t even his native language. Many of his witty, urbane lyrics belie the fact that he grew up speaking Yiddish, primarily. Jazz musicians have embraced his strong melodies and interesting harmonic twists for generations. The fact that he really never studied harmony and could only play on the black keys of the piano make his output even more astounding!

Fats Waller

[Note: Stay tuned at the end for some music from the band!]
Thomas “Fats” Waller (born May 21, 1904) grew up the son of a preacher in the vibrant musical community of Harlem. He played the organ for his dad’s church as a child, with the organ pumped for him by Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. His prodigious keyboard abilities were soon encouraged by many of the lions of stride piano in the neighborhood, who bought him his first pairs of long pants so he could attend their “cutting” sessions and benefit from their experience and tutelage. From an early age, he started performing his original piano compositions, soon adding his idiosyncratic vocals as well. He became a well-loved entertainer, in addition to adding a number of compositions that have become standard repertoire in the great American songbook. He is often credited with composing the first jazz waltz, Jitterbug Waltz.

Duke Ellington (Round 3)

It’s impossible to overestimate the impact that Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington (born April 29, 1899) had on jazz and indeed the world of music in general. Even if his myriad contributions to the Great American Songbook were his only accomplishment, he would be one of its most hallowed creators, but his legacy is far more sweeping. He managed to field an orchestra for several decades consisting of totally unique musical personalities for which he tailored new compositions to feature their individual and combined strengths in a way that was completely original and influenced literally everything that came after him.

Herbie Hancock

Herbie Hancock, born April 12, 1940, is one of the most influential pianists and composers in jazz. He first rose to prominence with trumpeter Donald Byrd and later revolutionized jazz itself with Miles Davis, and pop music with his headhunters and rockit bands. He remains a big influence on younger players to this day, now an elder statesman of the music.

Victor Feldman

Victor Feldman is considered the finest all-around jazz musician ever to come from Great Britain. He was born on April 7, 1934, and was performing on stage playing the drums with Glenn Miller’s band at the age of six. Glenn Miller called Feldman “The greatest young percussionist ever created.” He was featured in several motion pictures and on the BBC.
 
Since his arrival in the United States, he recorded over twenty albums and a video music lesson. Over a hundred of his compositions have been recorded, including the instantly recognizable jazz classics “Seven Steps To Heaven” and “Joshua,” made famous by Miles Davis and recorded and performed by thousands of artists worldwide.

Cedar Walton

Pianist/composer Cedar Walton (born January 17, 1934) first rose to prominence with drummer Art Blakey’s band and his own groups featured his original compositional voice for decades: fresh original takes on the hard bop style he came up in. Many of his tunes have become jazz standards.

Benny Golson

Saxophonist and jazz composer Benny Golson (born January 25, 1929) was one of jazz’s senior statesmen, passing away last year at the age of 95. He was one of the last surviving subjects of the well known photograph “A Great Day in Harlem”, which was featured in the film “The Terminal” (2004) which also featured a cameo by Golson himself. He penned a number of compositions which have become well loved jazz standards.

Jimmy Van Heusen

Songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen (born Edward Chester Babcock on January 26, 1913) picked his professional name inspired by the shirt company. In the course of his career, he won an Emmy and four Academy Awards for best song. Many of his tunes have become beloved jazz standards over the years. 

Harry Warren

Songwriter Harry Warren (born Salvatore Antonio Guaragna on December 24, 1893) was the first major American songwriter to write primarily for film. In the course of his long career he was nominated for 11 Oscars for Best Song and won three times. In a career that lasted over sixty years, he composed over eight hundred songs and were featured in over three hundred films.