Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Albert Bennington Lucas was born on November 16, 1912 in Brantford, Ontario, Canada and took piano lessons as a child from his mother, Francis Bradley Lucas, a concert pianist. By the age of twelve, he had switched to bass and tuba. After his move to New York City in 1933, he played with Kaiser Marshall before joining the Royal Sunset Orchestra, where he played until 1942.
During the 1940s Albert appeared on record with Hot Lips Page, Coleman Hawkins, Eddie Heywood, Duke Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, James P. Johnson, J.J. Johnson, Ben Webster, Erroll Garner, and Eddie South.
Throughout his career he toured and recorded with Illinois Jacquet from 1947–53, recording in Detroit with Jacquet’s all-star band which included Sonny Stitt, Leo Parker, Sir Charles Thompson, Maurice Simon and Shadow Wilson before returning to play with Heywood again from 1954–56. He also recorded in the 1950s with Ruby Braff, Charlie Byrd, Teddy Wilson, Bill Doggett, Dexter Gordon, Oliver Nelson.
Working primarily as a studio musician in his last two decades, backing up groups at Apollo Theater performances, he played jazz only occasionally. Double-bassist Albert Lucas passed away on June 19, 1983, in New York City.
