Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Rosa Henderson was born Rosa Deschamps on November 24, 1896 in Henderson, Kentucky. Her career as an entertainer began in 1913 when she joined her uncle’s circus troupe. She married Douglas “Slim” Henderson in 1918 and began traveling with his Mason-Henderson show. As a musical comedian she started during the early 1920s after moving to New York City, where she performed on Broadway. She would eventually perform in London.
Over the course of nine years she recorded over one hundred songs beginning in 1923. During that time she sometimes used pseudonyms such as Sally Ritz, Flora Dale, Sarah Johnson, Josephine Thomas, Gladys White, and Mamie Harris. She was accompanied by the Virginians, Fletcher Henderson’s Jazz Five, Fletcher Henderson’s Orchestra, Fletcher Henderson’s Club Alabam Orchestra, the Choo Choo Jazzers, the Kansas City Five, the Three Jolly Miners, the Kansas City Four, the Three Hot Eskimos, and the Four Black Diamonds.
She recorded for Ajax Records, Columbia, Paramount, Victor, and Vocalion Records. Her recordings include Afternoon Blues, Doggone Blues, Do Right Blues, He May Be Your Dog But He’s Wearing My Collar, and Papa If You Can’t Do Better (I’ll Let a Better Papa Move In).
After 1926, due largely in part to the death of her husband her recordings became limited, however, she continued performing until 1932. At that point Rosa took a job in a New York department store, but continued to perform benefit concerts until the Sixties.
Unrelated to Fletcher, Horace, Katherine, or Edmonia Henderson, vocalist Rosa Henderson, who sang jazz, blues and was a vaudeville performer of the Harlem Renaissance era, transitioned from a heart attack in 1968 on April 6, 1968.
More Posts: bandleader,history,instrumental,jazz,music,vocal
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Edward Bennett Coles was born October 29, 1910 in Montgomery, Alabama and was the second oldest of ten children and the oldest son. He studied both piano and bass from a young age and formed his first band at age 17. Three years later at age 20, he joined Noble Sissle’s band the Sizzling Syncopators, stayed there six years and performed with greats such as Sidney Bechet and Clarence Brereton.
After a tour of Europe in 1936, Cole left Sissle’s band to join his brother Nat’s group, the Rogues of Rhythm. He appeared in the TV show Bourbon Street Beat in 1959 and later appeared on The Law and Mr. Jones and The Jack Benny Program.
Retiring in the 1960s, bassist, pianist and vocalist Eddie Cole, who was a member of the Cole dynasty of Nat, Freddy and Ike, transitioned on June 18, 1970 at the age of 59 in Los Angeles, California.
More Posts: bandleader,bass,history,instrumental,jazz,music,piano,vocal
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Gabrielle Goodman was born October 23, 1964 in Baltimore, Maryland and her early years of singing in church in Baltimore gave her the skillset to blend jazz and gospel. As a protege of Roberta Flack began her international performance career as a backing vocalist for Flack in the mid-1980s while at the Peabody Institute. She continued to tour and record with her mentor for several years opening for Miles Davis, Ray Charles, the Crusaders and other legends in Japan, Switzerland, Brazil and others around the world.
Goodman’s breakthrough as a solo recording artist happened when she appeared on Norman Connors 1988 album Passion on Capitol Records. She sang lead on five songs, which led to her recording two jazz albums Travelin’ Light in 1993 and Until We Love the following year with Kevin Eubanks, Christian Mcbride, Gary Bartz, Gary Thomas, and Terri Lyne Carrington.
It would be another ten years before she would drop her third album which landed in the soul jazz category ~ Angel Eyes, Songs From The Book and Spiritual Tapestry for the Goodness label. As a touring and performing solo artist she has played festivals and with symphony orchestras.
Goodman has written and arranged songs for Chaka Khan and Roberta Flack, performed alongside Dee Dee Bridgewater and Michael Buble, and also provided vocals for Patti Labelle, Nona Hendryx, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Patrice Rushen, Freddie Jackson, Bryan Ferry, and George Duke.
Vocalist, composer, author, and educator Gabrielle Goodman has a four-octave vocal range and has been an associate professor of voice at Berklee College of Music since 1998.
More Posts: bandleader,educator,history,instrumental,jazz,music,vocal
The Jazz Voyager
Back to the Big Apple for this Jazz Voyager to finally hear the luscious voice of Denise King at Minton’s Playhouse 206 West 118th Street, Harlem, New York. This was one of my hangouts in the Seventies when I needed to get away from the R&B and just chill with an appreciative crowd. Harlem was home once I crossed 110th and Lenox. And like everywhere I go, I will be wearing my N95!
To that point, I will be flying in a day ahead and once again come to Harlem to experience vocalist Denise King on October 7th. She has two sets, the former beginning at 7:00pm, the latter set at 9:30, of which I will be attending. Doors open an hour before showtime. The cover is $25.00 with a $20.00 minimum per guest. For additional information, the number is 212-866-1262 or mintonsharlem.com.
This vocalist overflows with energy, enjoying herself as she swings and interprets. She places the listener at the scene to experience every nuance that each character in the song portrays, be it one or many. She lives within each song and brings you along for the ride, be it gospel, r&b, soul, jazz or the Great American Songbook.
And of course this is the city that never sleeps, so I will carouse through the late night haunts of Harlem, Broadway Uptown or head downtown to The Village or may even go across the bridge to Brooklyn while I’m there through the weekend. But Miss King is my priority on this sojourn!
More Posts: adventure,album,club,festival,genius,jazz,museum,music,preserving,restaurant,travel,vocal
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Alicia Cunningham was born Alicia Rodriguez of Mexican heritage on October 5, 1946 in Los Angeles, California. A classically trained vocalist and pianist, she worked in the L.A. studios and as an educator at Loyola University in her early years.
Meeting her husband Don was fortuitous when he moved to Los Angeles in the early 70s. Their combination of his jazz-influenced energetic singing style and Alicia’s fluid, clear and lyrical sound, established a solid reputation. This would lead to a tour with Count Basie in Europe for five months at major events and jazz festivals in England and Switzerland.
She was an intricate and melodic harmonizer and arranger and paired with the Cunningham stage presentation, they offered enormous panache. They not only kept her hometown audiences satisfied but they traveled around the country and the world thrilling listeners in Europe, Canada, Singapore, Brazil, Japan, Indonesia and South Korea.
In 2012, they released their final album together titled Sao Paulo Lights that was recorded in Brazil. In the autumn of 2014, Alicia made her last performance in St. Louis when Don received a St. Louis Jazz Hall of Fame Award.
Vocalist Alicia Cunningham, who sang hard jazz, transitioned in Las Vegas, Nevada on December 23, 2014 at the age of 68 after battling cancer for a year.
More Posts: arranger,bandleader,history,instrumental,jazz,music,vocal