Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ralph Simon Sharon was born in London, England on September 17, 1923 to a British mother and Latvian-born father. He emigrated to the United States in early 1954 and became a naturalized citizen five years later.
By 1958, Ralph was recording with Tony Bennett as accompanist. That was the start of a more than 50 year working relationship. He found the song I Left My Heart in San Francisco for Bennett, which became his signature song.
A jazz pianist in his own right, Sharon recorded nineteen albums as a leader, 15 with Bennett and two with Johnny Hartman. However, he also accompanied the likes of Robert Goulet, Chris Connor and nemerous others. Retiring to Boulder, Colorado, from on-the-road work when he reached 80, he continued to perform in the Denver metropolitan area until shortly before his death.
Pianist and arranger Ralph Sharon, best known as one of the finest accompanists who backed up popular singers, transitioned from natural causes on March 31, 2015.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Rodney Charles Levitt was born on September 16, 1929 in Portland, Oregon and studied composition at the University of Washington, where he took his BA in 1951.
He was in the Radio City Music Hall orchestra from 1957 to 1963, and during those years he performed with Dizzy Gillespie, Ernie Wilkins, Kai Winding, and Sy Oliver. In 1959 Rod worked with Gil Evans when his orchestra accompanied Miles Davis. The following year he played with Gerry Mulligan and Mundell Lowe, with Quincy Jones in ‘61, and with Oliver Nelson in 1962.
He recorded four albums as a leader of an octet between 1963-66 and continued to work with this combination into the 1970s, when he played with bassist Chuck Israels.
Later in his career he worked with Cedar Walton and Blue Mitchell, and wrote music for commercials with a company he ran from 1966-1989. The late Seventies saw him teaching at Fairleigh Dickinson, Hofstra University, CUNY, and Hunter College.
Trombonist, composer, and bandleader Rod Levitt transitioned from Alzheimer’s disease in Wardsboro, Vermont at the age of 77 on May 8, 2007.
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Three Wishes
Dexter Gordon was hanging out with Nica when the subject of three wishes came up and he shared with her his one wish:
- “The things I want you can’t put in your book.”
*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…
Joseph Shulman was born on September 12, 1923 in New York, New York. His first professional experience was with Scat Davis in 1940 followed with a stint alongside Les Brown in 1942.
Joining the military in 1943 he recorded with Django Reinhardt while a member of Glenn Miller’s wartime band. Upon his return to the States he played with Buddy Rich and Claude Thornhill, then he played with Miles Davis on the Birth of the Cool sessions.
He went on to work with Peggy Lee from 1948 to 1950 and with Lester Young in 1950. Shulman did a recording session with Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington that same year.
Marrying Barbara Carroll in 1954, the two toured together until his death. Bassist Joe Shulman transitioned from a heart attack on August 2, 1957 in New York City.
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Three Wishes
While the Baroness was in conversation with Teo Macero he was asked by her what three wishes he would make if given. He told her:
- “Peace of mind.”
- “To change the status of jazz. That is, to get rid of the stigma attached to jazz music. You know. A jazz musician is regarded as some kind of freak! This is something that has bugged me for a long, long time. Like, someone will come up to me and say, “Oh, so you’re a jazz musician?” And when I say< “Yes. A jazz musician and a composer,” they will look at me altogether differently. It would be marvelous if jazz musicians could be given a status equal to that or great figures of contemporary music.”
- “To have no problems with people recording. No problems in the studio.”
*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter
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