Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Judd Proctor was born Procter on January 2, 1931 in Doncaster, Yorkshire, England. He played banjo in his youth and joined a local trio, but switched to guitar in his teens. He won a regional Melody Maker contest in a group, The Zetland Players. By the age of 18 he was conscripted into the Royal Air Force, where he met and was influenced by guitarist Ike Isaacs. After his military service ended, he worked in accountancy for British Rail, but soon left to join a dance band in Nottingham and became a professional musician.
After playing in various bands he joined Ray Ellington’s quartet in 1955, remaining for six years. He appeared on many radio broadcasts including The Goon Show. The early Sixties saw Proctor become a session musician, appearing on recordings by Cliff Richard, Helen Shapiro, The Springfields, Cilla Black, Serge Gainsbourg, Harry Nilsson and many others. In his later years he worked with the Benny Goodman Orchestra. He recorded some instrumentals under his own name, including the 1961 single Palamino/Nola, and a 1968 LP, Guitars Galore.
Judd appeared on many television shows with Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., and Victoria Wood, and on many film soundtracks. The 1960s through the ‘80s had him touring with Stanley Black, a member of the Don Lusher Orchestra, and with the Bert Kaempfert Orchestra. His last and longest regular gig was providing incidental music for the TV comedy series Last of the Summer Wine.
Guitarist and session musician Judd Proctor, whose name was often misspelled on early recordings, transitioned on August 21, 2020 in Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, England at the age of 89.
More Posts: bandleader,guitar,history,instrumental,jazz,music
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Charles Burchell was born in London, England on October 30, 1925 and began learning the ukulele, then guitar. Then he heard an Artie Shaw record that inspired him to take up the clarinet and play jazz. Switching to alto saxophone, he started his own quintet in 1943, then tried tenor saxophone before he was drafted into the Royal Air Force. Transferred to the army in 1944, he played in Greece with the British Divisional Band.
Following his discharge in 1947 Charles worked in London with the Toni Antone Big Band. By 1949 he had given up full-time musicianship for work in a factory in order to not perform music he did not like in order to make a living.
A disciple of Lennie Tristano and a devoted admirer of Warne Marsh, he continued to play part-time, leading his own quintet for more than 20 years. Burchell has guested with Clark Terry, Emily Remler and Nathan Davis, and recording for Peter Ind’s Wave label. He played with Ind in the group that supported Tristano on his only UK concert, at Harrogate in 1968.
Saxophonist Charles Burchell, who went by Chas and has been touted as one of the great unsung heroes of British jazz, transitioned from a heart attack on June 3, 1986.
More Posts: bandleader,history,instrumental,jazz,music,saxophone
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Joseph Luke Guy was born in Birmingham, Alabama on September 20, 1920 but much of his early personal life is obscured. He began his professional music career performing in New York City, and joined Fats Waller’s backup band in the late 1930s. Following that, in 1938, he succeeded Dizzy Gillespie in Teddy Hill’s orchestra.
Patterning his playing style after his musical role model, Roy Eldridge, despite his range, speed, and potential, Joe never managed to surpass Eldridge’s abilities, though he was considered a musical talent when taking into account his young age.
In 1940 he became a key soloist in Coleman Hawkins’ short-lived big band. 1941–42 saw Guy as a regular performer as a member of the after-hours band at Minton’s Playhouse alongside Nick Fenton, Kenny Clarke, and Thelonious Monk in jam sessions with early bop music. During this period he was actively involved in numerous recordings by Jerry Newman, and also appeared on songs by Charlie Christian, Hot Lips Page, Roy Eldridge, and Don Byas.
Incorporating Gillespie’s influences into his playing, Joe’s performance on Monk’s 1942 song Epistrophy is arguably the highlight of his recording career. Much of his appearances as an instrumentalist are marked by his enthusiasm and tempo, however, on occasions would over exert himself and consequently sound erratic.
Struggling with a heroin addiction throughout the majority of his brief career, in 1945–46 Guy was involved with Billie Holiday both professionally and intimately. When they were both busted for drug possession, the two cut ties thereafter. Afterwards, sidelined him from further success, he moved back to his hometown and fell into relative obscurity among the music industry.
Trumpeter Joe Guy, who performed locally in his hometown and advised others about the dangers of his addiction, transitioned on June 1, 1962, at the age of 41.
More Posts: history,instrumental,jazz,music,trumpet
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Norman Louis Bates was born on August 26, 1927 in Boise, Idaho. His mother was an organist and he was a younger brother of bassist Bob Bates. He played in Jimmy Dorsey’s band for a year in 1945, then with Raymond Scott and Carmen Cavallaro shortly thereafter.
By 1948 he was part of the Dave Brubeck Trio, and the following year performed with Paul Desmond. Norman recorded with Jack Sheedy’s Dixieland Jazz Band in 1950.
After spending four years in the Air Force, Bates played with Wally Rose’s Dixieland Band in 1955 and then replaced his brother Bob in Brubeck’s quartet, playing on multiple albums from Dave Brubeck and Jay & Kai at Newport (1956) onwards. He also recorded with Desmond’s group again in 1956. In 1957 he left Brubeck, and led a trio in San Francisco, California.
Double bassist Norman Bates transitioned on January 29, 2004.
Bestow upon an inquiring mind a dose of a Boise bassist to motivate the perusal of the genius of jazz musicians worldwide whose gifts contribute to the canon…
More Posts: bass,history,instrumental,jazz,music
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Adam Shulman was born on August 1, 1979 in San Francisco, California. Taking what he learned studying piano during his formative years, he headed to Santa Cruz he matriculated through the University of California with a degree in classical performance. While at UCSC he studied jazz piano with Smith Dobson.
Returning home he became a staple on the city’s jazz scene, leaning towards and playing in the bop genre. Adam has been seen working with countless bay area musicians and vocalists such as Marcus Shelby, Anton Schwartz, Ed Reed and Kellye Gray among many others. Beyond the locals he has played and/or recorded with Stefon Harrism Willie Jones III, Dayna Stephens, Mark Murphy, Alan Harris, Luciana Souza, Sean Jones, Grant Stewart and John Clayton to name a few.
A consummate sideman, Adam is a composer and arranger. He has done much of the arranging for the jazz and cabaret singer Paula West and has released four albums of original music as a leader and continues to perform, arrange and compose.
More Posts: arranger,bandleader,composer,history,instrumental,jazz,music,piano