Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Henry “Bass” Edwards was born on February 22, 1889 in Atlanta. Georgia and by 14 he began playing in local Odd Fellows’ Band, and subsequently studied music at Morris Brown College and Morehouse College.
During the first World War he played in the U.S. Army Bands, including a spell with Lt. J. Tim Brymn’s 350th FA. Band. From 1919 to 1920 he played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with various concert orchestras, including working with Sam Wooding.
1921 saw him playing for the next four years with several dance bands in the Philadelphia-Atlantic City, New Jersey area. In mid-1925, Bass joined Duke Ellington, but only remained with the band until spring 1926. He then joined Leon Abbey in New York City and toured South America during the spring 1927. Returning to the city, he joined the Allie Ross Orchestra, which played for the Blackbirds shows.
In 1929, he joined Noble Sissle’s band on brass bass, and sailed to Europe with him. On his return Edwards worked with Fats Waller, James P. Johnson, and Eubie Blake, before rejoining Allie Ross for the Rhapsody in Black show. His last major jazz position was with the Charlie Matson Orchestra during 1933. He then worked mainly on string bass with various light and classical orchestras.
Tubist and bassist Bass Edwards died in New York, New York on August 22, 1965.
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Louis Keppard was born February 2, 1888 in New Orleans, Louisiana and was the older brother of cornetist Freddie Keppard. The guitarist played in the Cherry Blossom Band before leading his own group, the Magnolia Band, which included King Oliver and Honore Dutrey among its members.
He played with Papa Celestin’s Tuxedo Brass Band, Manuel Perez, and followed that residency with the Olympia Orchestra alongside Freddie. In 1917 he moved briefly to Chicago, Illinois but returned soon after. Playing in several New Orleans brass bands, Louis performed as an alto hornist and guitarist from the 1920s through the 1950s, including in the Gibson Brass Band and the Young Excelsior Brass Band.
Keppard’s style of “shuffle rhythms” was an influence on Danny Barker. He recorded with Wooden Joe Nicholas in 1949, and retired from music some time after 1962.
Guitarist, tubist and alto hornist Louis Keppard, who led a band but never recorded as a leader, died in his hometown sixteen days after his 98th birthday on February 18, 1986.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Dick Lammi was born on January 15, 1909 in Red Lodge, Montana. Early in his career he played violin and banjo, playing as a banjoist in various dance bands and orchestras in the Pacific Northwest in the late 1920s. Settlling in Portland, Oregon in the early Thirties, and played bass in a group there.
After a move to San Francisco, California in 1936 he began playing tuba alongside bass. His best-known work was as a member of Lu Watters’s rehearsal band, which evolved into the Yerba Buena Jazz Band, playing regularly at the Dawn Club.
With World War II interrupting his tenure with the ensemble, after his discharge he rejoined the YBJB and stayed with them until they disbanded in 1950. The Fifties saw Dick working with Bob Scobey, Turk Murphy, Wally Rose, and Clancy Hayes. He recorded little after the early 1960s.
Tubist and bassist Dick Lammi, who was the first tuba player to record during the San Francisco revival, died on November 29, 1969 in San Francisco.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Leonard “Red” Balaban was born in Chicago, Illinois on December 22, 1929 to Barney Balaban, former president of Paramount Pictures. By the Fifties he was residing in the Florida panhandle, working as a farmer and playing in regional ensembles. He moved to New York City in the mid-1960s and held a regular gig at the Dixieland jazz club Your Father’s Mustache.
He worked extensively as a sideman, for musicians such as Wild Bill Davison, Eddie Condon, Gene Krupa, Dick Wellstood, and Kenny Davern. He opened the third incarnation of Eddie Condon’s Jazz club on W. 54th Street after arranging permission for using Eddie’s name from Condon’s widow. He co-led the house band with Ed Polcer from 1975, with whom he later shared ownership of the club. Other musicians in this outfit included Vic Dickenson, Warren Vache, and Connie Kay. The club closed in the mid-1980s.
Tubist, sousaphonist, gui Red Balaban, who also played banjo, stand-up bass, slide trombone, ukulele and rhythm guitar, transitioned on December 29, 2013 at his lakefront home in West Haven, Connecticut.
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The Jazz Voyager
From Charlotte to New York City is the flight plan for this Jazz Voyager. Landing at LaGuardia I’m taking a private car to just above the theater district on Broadway and 59th Street where Dizzy’s Club sits. Jazz At Lincoln Center has established an intimate venue with panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline where world class musicians come to perform. The club soars high above the expansive views of Central Park.
Trombonist, arranger, composer, bandleader and educator Wycliffe Gordon will be gracing the stage on this trip. Aside from being a stellar trombonist, he also sings and plays didgeridoo, trumpet, tuba, and piano. Always bringing something new I am anticipating his arrival on stage to witness what he will be laying down on this show.
The venue is located at 10 Columbus Circle, 10019 and for more information you can visit notoriousjazz.com/event/wycliffe-gordon-friends
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