Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Cliff Jackson was born Clifton Luther Jackson on July 19, 1902 in Culpepper, Virginia. Learning to play stride piano he played in Atlantic City until moving to New York City in 1923. He played with Lionel Howard’s Musical Aces in 1924, recorded with Bob Fuller and Elmer Snowden, led his own ensemble, the Krazy Kats, for recordings in 1930, and following this group’s dissolution he played extensively as a solo pianist in several New York nightclubs.
During this time Jackson accompanied singers such as Viola McCoy, Lena Wilson, Sara Martin and Clara Smith. He recorded with Sidney Bechet in the early Forties and would record as a soloist or leader by mid-decade and again in the Sixties. His greatest success came as house pianist at Cafe Society from 1943-5; but he also toured with Eddie Condon, and played with Garvin Bushell, J.C. Higginbotham and Joe Thomas.
Cliff married singer Maxine Sullivan, had his powerful stride piano style showcased on such solo recordings as “Limehouse Blues”, and his left-hand techniques highlighted and explained in detail in books Ricardo Scivales’ method Jazz Piano: Left Hand. Stride pianist Cliff Jackson passed away of heart failure on May 24, 1970 in New York City.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Matt Slocum was born on July 18, 1981 in New Richmond, Wisconsin. From his sophomore year in high school on he studied drums with Phil Hey, while playing in a Ska band. At the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, Matt studied with Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua, John Clayton and Joe LaBarbera. After graduating USC, Slocum spent three years in Pasadena but in 2007 he moved near New York City.
Since his move Slocum has toured with vocalist Sarah Gazarek for three years and has played with Shelly Berg, Seamus Blake, Alan Broadbent, Bill Cunliffe, Danny Grissett, Larry Koonse, Lage Lund, Wynton Marsalis, Linda Oh, Dayna Stephens, Gerald Wiggins, Anthony Wilson and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, among numerous others.
Slocum’s list of influences on composing is impressive citing Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Wayne Shorter, Tom Harrell, Dave Holland, Debussy and Ravel; and drummers Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Max Roach, Kendrick Scott and Marcus Gilmore.
Drummer Matt Slocum is the recipient of a Meet the Composers Foundation grant, and has lead recording sessions for his debut album, Portraits and After The Rain. He continues to perform, record and tour.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Norman Hedman was born July 17, 1945 in the West Indies and discovered his first hand drum, a conga, in a Brooklyn garbage can. Instinctively repairing the conga at age 12, he has been playing music ever since.
Hedman founded Tropique in 1995 and the percussion instruments of timbales, cowbells and congas formed his Latin jazz and island flavor sound. This first call percussionist brought together an array of talent from around the globe to create music that spanned teenage to silver generations appreciating and enjoying his music. His new and inventive concepts, clean, tight lines and original compositions were his hallmark of success.
Over the course of his career Norman composed five number one R&B hits with one receiving 5 Grammy awards, in addition to two platinum and two gold albums, composed three songs for movie soundtracks for Ali, Shaft and Dr. Doolittle 2. His One Step Closer, Taken By Surprise and Healing Hands albums by his group Norman Hedman’s Tropique were nominated for Best Latin Jazz Album.
He has worked with Arturo Sandoval, Nancy Wilson, Bobby Watson, Grady Tate, Pat Martino, Chico and Vaughn Freeman, Arthur Blythe, George Cables, John Hicks, Gary Bartz, Ahmad Alladeen, Giovannie Hidalgo, Hilton Ruiz, Horacee Arnold, Airto Moreira, Monguito Santamaria, Delmar Brown, Lew Soloff and Marcus Miller.
Percussionist, producer and composer Norman Hedman passed away from acute myeloid leukemia and pneumonia on September 29, 2008 in New York City.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Nat Pierce was born on July 16, 1925 in Somerville, Massachusetts. Learning to play piano as a child he went on to attend the New England Conservatory. After graduation he worked as an amateur musician around Boston, then led his own band featuring Charlie Mariano from 1949-51. He would go on to play with Woody Herman through 1966 as chief arranger and asst. road manager.
Taking up residence in New York City, Nat freelanced with musicians such as Pee Wee Russell, Lester Young, Emmett Berry and ruby Braff, to name a few. From 1957-1959 Pierce led his second band off and on which featured Buck Clayton, Gus Johnson and Paul Quinichette. He recorded with a number of other well-known musicians as well, including Quincy Jones, Coleman Hawkins and Pee Wee Russell.
Pierce arranged the music for The Sound of Jazz, a 1954 CBS television special hosted by John Crosby. Most of the pieces he composed and arranged were predominantly created for the use in big bands. Pianist Nat Pierce passed away on June 10, 1992.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Paulo Moura was born on July 15, 1932 in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil. His father, a maestro of a marching band, encouraged his son to train as a tailor but Paulo instead studied in the National Music School and performed with the Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra.
He was the first black artist to become first clarinetist in the Municipal Theatre Orchestra. He appeared at Bossa Nova night at Carnegie Hall in 1962 with Sergio Mendes and both were featured on Cannonball Adderley’s 1962 album, Cannonball’s Bossa Nova.
From 1997 to 1999, Paulo was on the State Council of Culture in Rio de Janiero, a Councillor of the Federal Council of Music, and President of the Museum Foundation of Image and Sound. In 2000, Moura became the first Brazilian instrumentalist to win the Latin Grammy.
He won the Sharp Award for the most popular instrumentalist of the year in 1992. His CD “Paulo Moura e Os Oito Batutas” was listed by Barnes & Noble as one of the top 10 recommendations of the year for 1998. Clarinetist and saxophonist Paulo Moura passed away of lymphoma on July 12, 2010 just three days before his 78th birthday.