Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Dick Wilson, born November 11, 1911 in Mount Vernon, Illinois was raised in Seattle, Washington, but attended high school in Los Angeles, California. He started on piano and learned saxophone in Seattle from saxophonist Joe Darensbourg. He became a member of Darensbourg’s band in 1930.
In 1936, he joined Andy Kirk’s Clouds of Joy, where he spent the next five years. With Mary Lou Williams and Pha Terrell, Wilson was one of the most striking musical personalities in the band. He cultivated a style that has been compared to Lester Young’s because of similar characteristics in their solos.
Tenor saxophone Dick Wilson, best known for his work with the Andy Kirk big band, passed away from tuberculosis on November 24, 1941 in New York City.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ariel de la Portilla was born on November 10, 1975 in Matanzas, Cuba where he lived until immigrating with his parents to Miami, Florida when he was five. Growing up in the Little Havana neighborhood he was surrounded by the sounds of Cuban and Brazilian music as well as simultaneously experiencing American music and culture that gave his childhood a distinctly unique dichotomy that later proved to have become a crucial aspect of his life, education, and musical identity.
After graduating from high school in 1994, he left Miami to pursue his interests in the double bass. Awarded a music scholarship to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati, he dedicated most of his time to studying classical bass and jazz. He remained at CCM until recruited by the University of Miami in 1996 to study under the instruction of Don Coffman, Matt Bonnelli and Lucas Drew.
Since arriving in New York City, he has performed with jazz and Latin musicians including Ray Vega, Dave Valentin, Patato Valdez, Candido Camero, Edy Martinez, Willie Martinez, Peter Erskine, Eddie Daniels, and Sonny Bravo.
Bassist Ariel De La Portilla is currently a member of the Ze Luis Quartet and a new conceptual guitar trio, Lengua Moderna.
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Three Wishes
When asked by Nica what his three wishes would be, Junior Cook only had one response:
- “I gave them to you before, and since those three didn’t show up, I’ve given it up.”
*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Malcolm Mitchell was born in London, England on November 9, 1926 and was originally taught by Ivor Mairants. In 1947 he was teaching jazz guitar when he formed The Trio with pianist Johnny Pearson and bassist Lennie Bush. At the BBC Maida Vale studios the trio would broadcast live on a Saturday morning.
1948 saw Mitchell become the first British musician to play with Duke Ellington and earn money for doing so. In 1933 the Duke of Windsor had insisted on sitting in on drums with the Ellington Band when it visited Britain but he didn’t get paid for it. Mitchell’s debut with Ellington was equally eccentric in its way.
Throughout the 40s and into the 50s the brutish Musicians’ Union, in tandem with the all-powerful fraternity, Ministry of Works, had a rule which banned American musicians from playing in England. In 1948 the Dizzy Gillespie and Spike Jones Orchestras had to cancel projected tours and the only way Ellington was able to work there was as a variety act without his band. He played piano at the London Palladium and music halls in nine other cities with his trumpeter Ray Nance, allowed in as a dancer and thus “Showbiz”, and his singer Kay Davis weren’t banned. The Union presumably didn’t regard them as musicians.
While the Union Ban was in place the Mitchell Trio, now with Johnnie Valmore Pearson on piano and Teddy Broughton on bass, accompanied other bewildered Americans variety artists including Hoagy Carmichael and Maxine Sullivan when they toured England. During those years he toured eight weeks in Sweden with Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt.
His Mitchell Trio, with pianist Johnny Pearson and Teddy Broughton on bass, became well known supporting U.S. jazzmen and singers touring in the UK. Guitarist, bandleader and educator Malcolm MItchell passed away in Bognor Regis, England on March 9, 1998.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Warren Battiste was born on November 8, 1925 in New Orleans, Louisiana and was taught guitar by his father who played the banjo at Preservation Hall. Completing four year of study at Gruenwald Music School in his hometown, he became proficient not only on that instrument but also bass, banjo, and piano.
He first played with Fats Domino before heading off to New York City for Illinois Jacquet’s band. This gave him a very broad understanding from classic blues to R&B and jazz. Back in New Orleans he played thebest clubs on Bourbon Street, from Preservation Hall and Snug Harbor to the Matador and others.
He appeared in the film Shy People with movie stars Jill Clayburgh and Barbara Hershey. Warren has performed with George Benson, Jimmy McGriff, The Platters and The Inkspots. He went on to teach music at Wequachie High School, Essex County College and the Newark Art Center in New Jersey. He has released three albums as a leader ~ Street Jazz, Just Friends and Quiet Storm In New Orleans, the latter recorded in his 80s.
Guitarist Warren Battiste, who has been recognized with a Lifetime Achievement Award In Jazz from the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, continues to perform.
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