Daily Dose OF Jazz…

Ward Pinkett was born on April 29, 1906, the son of an amateur cornet player. He started playing the trumpet when he was ten years old. He played in the school band at Hampton Institute and later attended the New Haven Conservatory of Music.

After working with the White Brothers Orchestra in Washington, D. C. he moved to New York City and played for brief periods with the bands of Charlie Johnson, Willie Gant, Billy Fowler, Henri Saparo, Joe Steele and Charlie Skeete.

During his stint with Jelly Roll Morton in 1928–30, he participated in seven of Morton’s recording sessions and his solos on “Strokin’ Away” and “Low Gravy” that are considered by music historians to be the best of his career. He also worked with Chick Webb, Bingie Madison, Rex Stewart and Teddy Hill but was never able to achieve fame.

By 1935 he teamed with Albert Nicholas and Bernard Addison at Adrian Rollini’s Tap Room and also had a short stint with Louis Metcalf’s Big Band. He recorded with King Oliver, Bubber Miley, Clarence Williams, the Little Ramblers and James P. Johnson.

Ward Pinkett died of alcoholism-aggravated pneumonia on March 15, 1937 just six weeks short of his thirty-first birthday.

Take A Dose On The Road

Take A Dose On The Road

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