Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Bryce Benno Rohde was born on September 12, 1923 in Hobart, Tasmania, an island state of Australia. His early influences were Art Tatum and Nat King Cole but eventually leaned towards George Russell’s Lydian Concept.
He played jazz in Adelaide, Australia early in his career before a 1953 move to Canada. In 1954 he and two other expats plus an American formed the Australian Jazz Quartet/Quintet. The group recorded several albums and toured widely in the United States, but broke up in 1958 following a tour of Australia.
Rohde led his own quartets in Australia until 1964, then moved to California in 1965. After then he based himself out of San Francisco, leading his own ensembles at times. Among those Australian musicians with whom he worked extensively are Bruce Cale and Charlie Munro.
The pianist played New York City and Chicago, and recorded for Bethlehem Records. He also published a book combining original jazz compositions and his other passion, black and white photography. It shares the title of one of his seven recordings as a leader, Turn Right At New South Wales.
Over a career in jazz spanning more than 50 years he performed with Count Basie, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, and John Coltrane among others. He eventually settled in San Francisco, California where he continued to perform and record until his death. Pianist, composer and bandleader Bryce Rohde passed away on January 26, 2016.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
William English was born on August 27, 1925 in New York City and studied at the Greenwich House of Music in the Village. His early career hit just as rock & roll was on the rise and he played with rhythm and blues musicians in the 1950s, such as Sonny Thompson and Amos Milburn.
He went on to venture into jazz working with Julian Dash, Bennie Green, and Erskine Hawkins in the mid-1950s before becoming the house drummer at New York’s Apollo Theatre. Later in the decade he worked at Connie’s with his own ensemble, and during the 1960s he freelanced playing with Coleman Hawkins, Earl Hines, Prestige Blues Swingers, Gene Ammons, Quincy Jones Orchestra & Big Band, Sonny Stitt, Philly Joe Jones, Frank Foster Quintet, Etta jones, Joe Newman, Stanley Turrentine, Kenny Burrell, The Ray Bryant Combo and Eddie Jefferson, among others.
He remained active into the 1970s, working with the Eric Dixon Sextet among others. Drummer Bill English passed away on March 4, 2007 in his home city.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Kjeld Bonfils was born on August 23, 1918 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was one of the figures involved in the Golden Age of Danish jazz in the 1930s.
During the Nazi occupation of Denmark from 1940 to 1945, jazz was discouraged by the regime, but Bonfils played with Svend Asmussen in Valdemar Eiberg’s band, as well as elsewhere. Jazz became a symbol of the underground and political protest.
Pianist and vibraphonist Kjeld Bonfils, who was hailed as one of the best soloists of his day, passed away on October 13, 1984 at age 66.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Bumps Myers was born Hubert Maxwell Meyers on August 22, 1912 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Moving to southern California with his family when he was nine years old, he began playing with Curtis Mosby in the late 1920s.
The 1930s saw him playing with Buck Clayton including on a tour of China. In addition, he played with Lionel Hampton and Les Hite. In the 1940s Bumps performed extensively with Benny Carter, Lester Young, Jimmie Lunceford, Sid Catlett, T-Bone Walker, Benny Goodman, and Russell Jacquet.
Through the 1950s he continued performing live and working as a session musician, with Jimmy Witherspoon, Helen Humes, Red Callender, Louie Bellson, and Harry Belafonte. After working with Horace Henderson in the early 1960s, he put together his own group Bumps Myers & His Frantic Five and recorded prior to retiring due to health problems.
Tenor saxophonist Bumps Myers, who also on occasion played alto and soprano, passed away on April 9, 1968 in Los Angeles, California.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Lennie Felix was born in Stamford Hill, London, England on August 16, 1920. He learned piano from the age of ten and his playing style reflected the influence of Fats Waller, Art Tatum and Earl Hines. His later influences drew from Keith Jarrett, Charlie Parker and Vladimir Horovitz.
From the 1960s, Lennie performed increasingly more as a solo pianist and appeared regularly at the PizzaExpress Jazz Club, where he also accompanied US visitors like Bud Freeman and Buddy Tate.
He worked in the bands of Nat Gonella, Harry Gold, and Sid Philips, and enjoyed a 20-year association with trumpeter Freddy Randall. Pianist Lennie Felix passed away on December 29, 1980 in a hospital after he was hit by a speeding car near to the 606 Club in Fulham, West London.
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