Monk Rowe: Jazz: The Inspiration

<BLOCKQUOTE><H3>Jazz Life: The Inspiration</H3> <P>In the spring of 1995 I was offered an opportunity to coordinate video interviews with our greatest jazz artists: Adderly, Hampton, Hinton, Jarvis, Mance, McPartland, Tate, Terry, Wilder, Williams and many others. These interviews, conducted for historical reference, have become the foundation of the Hamilton College Jazz Archive, helping to preserve the history of this art form through the stories of its players and writers. The following are brief biographies of the personalities in the songs to whom the collection of <A HREF="../sales/jazzlife.html" TARGET="_top"><I>Jazz Life</I></A> are dedicated.</P> <P ALIGN=RIGHT>-- Monk Rowe</P> <H3>Nat Adderley</H3> <P>Brassman Nat Adderley remains one of the few jazz cornetists working today. He first learned the trumpet from his older brother Julian, (better known as Cannonball). They became the most renown brothers in the history of jazz, recording numerous classic records with the Cannonball Adderley Quintet. Nat's composing played a huge role in the success of this group, as he penned the instrumental hits "Jive Samba," "The Work Song," and "Hummin'".</P> <H3>Lionel Hampton</H3> <P>Lionel Hampton's huge contribution to jazz can scarcely be measured. As a band leader he was responsible for some of the era's most treasured recordings. While he first excelled on the drums, it was the vibraphone that will forever be associated with Lionel Hampton. His first important jazz experience was with the Les Hite band in 1930. The Hite group was chosen to back up Louis Armstrong on his California tour and the recording of "Memories of You" with Satchmo in 1930 started his career as a vibraphonist. Lionel went on to greater fame with The Benny Goodman Big Band and Quartet and his own dynamic ensemble.</P> <H3>Milt&Mona Hinton</H3> <P>Milt Hinton is the "Dean of Jazz Bassists". Milt's career started in Chicago in the era of Al Capone and included work with virtually every major jazz artist, including Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Count Basie, Hank Jones and Joe Williams. After years on the road be became part of the "New York Rhythm Section" and recorded constantly with countless jazz and popular music artists.</P> <P>Mona Hinton is half of the jazz world's most beloved couple. She has helped direct the marvelous career of her husband Milt, and acted as a business advisor to Count Basie as well as music contractor for Lena Horne, Quincy Jones and Sammy Davis. Along the way, Mona received a Master's Degree in Education, while serving as a support system for many struggling jazz artists in New York City. Countless musicians relate how they were welcomed into the Hintons home in Queens for a meal or a bass lesson. It was Mona who took the memorable 35mm movies at the famous 1959 Esquire jazz photo shoot. This film later became the basis for Jean Bach's film documentary, "A Great Day in Harlem."</P> <H3>Jane Jarvis</H3> <P>In November of 1995 the American Federation of Jazz Societies honored Jane with a jazz festival celebrating her 80th birthday and distinguished career in music. Her diverse achievements include record producing for the Muzak Corporation, official organist for the Milwaukee Braves and New York Mets, jazz performing, recording, arranging and an ever-increasing role as a lecturer and spokesperson for jazz education. She is a founding member and pianist for the Statesmen of Jazz, a group of veteran musicians whose goals include presenting jazz to young audiences across the country. She records frequently and can be found in the company of such stellar bassists as Milt Hinton and Jay Leonhart.</P> <H3>Junior Mance</H3> <P>Pianist Junior Mance was born in Chicago in 1928. He gained early experience with Gene Ammons and Lester Young. During his military service, Junior played with the Adderley brothers, later joining their quintet in 1956. He has recorded and toured with Dizzy Gillespie, Dinah Washington and Joe Williams and currently leads his own trio. The strong Blues influence in his playing makes him immediately recognizable and he has composed a number of classic jazz tunes, including "Harlem Lullaby." Junior continues to record frequently, often for the Chiarascoro record label. He is on the faculty of the New School in New York City.</P> <H3>Marian McPartland</H3> <P>Marian McPartland leads a dual career as a jazz pianist and radio personality. Her career as a classically-trained pianist was sidetracked by her love of jazz and popular music and she left the Guildhall School of Music to perform in the world of Vaudeville. During WW II, Marian played for British and American troops in Europe and met her future husband, cornetist Jimmy McPartland. She moved to the U.S. with Jimmy in 1946 and gradually overcame resistance to her nationality and sex by establishing her own jazz trio at The Hickory House in New York City. Her nationally syndicated radio show "Piano Jazz" is in its nineteenth year.</P> <H3>Buddy Tate</H3> <P>Tenor saxophonist Buddy Tate is one of the oldest surviving alumni of the Count Basie Orchestra. Buddy filled Herschel Evans' chair in the Basie band and stayed from 1939-49. After Basie, a gig at the Celebrity Room in New York led to a stay of twenty years. He can be heard on records with Basie, Jimmy Rushing, Jay McShann and with numerous groups under his own name. Count Basie was certainly thinking of Buddy when he said "the band has always been built from the rhythm, to the tenors and then to the rest of the band."</P> <H3>Clark Terry</H3> <P>Clark Terry celebrated his 75th birthday with an extensive tour of the world during 1995-96. His distinctive trumpet and vocal style have made him an international star in the world of jazz. He was born in St. Louis in 1920 and played briefly with Charlie Barnet and Eddie Vinson before joining Count Basie in 1948. From 1951-59 he traveled with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and toured Europe with the Quincy Jones production of "Free&Easy." Clark was part of the NBC Tonight Show Orchestra in New York City and has been a major influence on a generation of trumpet artists.</P> <H3>Joe Wilder</H3> <P>Joe Wilder's trumpet playing has been heard with Les Hite, Lionel Hampton, Jimmy Lunceford and Count Basie, as well as in the pit orchestras of New York. He has performed in the New York Philharmonic and the Smithsonian Jazz Repertory Orchestra. His most recent album is entitled "No Greater Love."</P> <H3>Claude Williams</H3> <P>As a child Claude "Fiddler" Williams learned mandolin, guitar and violin. His first job was playing with the Black road shows that traveled across the southwest. Gigs with Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy and bands in the hot jazz atmosphere of Kansas City honed his skills, and Claude traveled with Count Basie's first Swing band in 1936. His career has included work with rhythm&blues groups, collaborations with Jay McShann and tours with his own groups here and abroad. Claude is the leading exponent of the Kansas City brand of Swing, playing violin can with the Statesmen of Jazz. In addition to his swinging violin, Claude delights audiences with his charming singing style.</P> <P>Complete <A HREF="pview.html" TARGET="new">list of jazz greats</A> interviewed so far.</P> </BLOCKQUOTE>  <P ALIGN=CENTER><A HREF="../index.html">Home</A> | <A HREF="../man/man.html">The Man</A> | <A HREF="../music/music.html">The Music</A> | Inspiration | <A HREF="../programs/programs.html">Programs</A> | <A HREF="../sales/jazzlife.html">CDs, Tapes and MP3s</A> | <A HREF="mailto:info@monkrowe.com">e-mail<BR></A></P>