Daily Dose Of Jazz…

David William Sanborn was born July 30, 1945 in Tampa, Florida where his father was stationed in the US Air Force, and grew up in Kirkwood, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. Contracting polio at the age of three and confined to an iron lung for a year, the polio left him with impaired respiration and his left arm shorter than the right.

While confined to bed he was inspired by the saxophone breaks in songs he heard on the radio by Fats Domino’s Ain’t That a Shame and Little Richard’s Tutti Frutti. At the age of eleven David changed to saxophone from piano lessons when doctors recommended that he take up a wind instrument to improve his breathing and strengthen his chest muscles. By 14 he was good enough to play with blues Albert King and Little Milton in local clubs. Alto saxophonist Hank Crawford was an early and lasting influence.

Sanborn studied free jazz in his youth with saxophonists Roscoe Mitchell and Julius Hemphill. He continued his education at Northwestern University and transferred to the University of Iowa, where he played and studied with saxophonist J.R. Monterose. In 1967 he took a Greyhound bus to San Francisco, California to join the Summer of Love, and was invited to sit in on a session with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and stayed with the band for five years. He went on to play with the Brecker Brothers, Al Jarreau, and Tim Berne.

Finding life on the road increasingly difficult he continued to tour, was active as a session musician, and played on numerous albums by artists including Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Sting, the Eagles, Rickie Lee Jones, James Brown, George Benson, Carly Simon, Elton John, Bryan Ferry and the Rolling Stones.

As a leader he recorded twenty-five albums and his discography as composer and sideman is extensive and includes videos, television and film. Sanborn won six Grammy Awards and had eight gold albums and one platinum album and was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame.

Alto saxophonist David Sanborn, who was known primarily as a smooth jazz musician, died of complications from prostate cancer in Tarrytown, New York on May 12, 2024.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Patricia Dean was born on July 29th in Tampa, Florida and was surrounded by music while growing up.  Her brother played bass and father played lead alto saxophonist in the big band of guitarist Bobby Sherwood, and was also a pianist, composer and clarinetist. Her greatest influence was singer/drummer Karen Carpenter.

She got her first drum set and  began studying privately and really playing, at the age of 11. She played her first professional job with her father and brother when she was 14. Citing Sarah Vaughan, Shirley Horn, Nancy Wilson and Julie London as among her singing influences, and names Ed Thigpen, Jack DeJohnette, Tony Williams and Sonny Payne for her drumming.

Through the years she has worked with Nat Adderley, Ira Sullivan, Whitey Mitchell, Bobby Militello and the late John LaPorta. Vocalist and drummer Patricia Dean continues to pursue her career in southwest Florida.

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Requisites

Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 1 | By Eddie Carter

I was still in the mood to hear another trumpet album after listening to Harry “Sweets” Edison when my search led me to another of my Mom’s favorite records. Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams were two musicians she enjoyed listening to and this morning’s record from the library brings them together in a great live date. Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 1 (Blue Note BLP 4060/BST 84060) captures the trumpeter’s quintet featuring Pepper Adams (tracks: A1, A2, B2, B3) on baritone sax, Duke Pearson on piano, Laymon Jackson on bass and Lex Humphries on drums in performance at one of New York’s best jazz clubs. This album holds a special place in my heart because it reminds me of the music my Mom and I used to enjoy together during Sunday dinner. My copy is the 1978 King Record Company Japanese Stereo reissue (Blue Note BST 84060 – GXK-8104).

Ruth Mason is our Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening and starts the set with the musician’s introductions. The quintet then launches into the upbeat melody of My Girl Shirl by Duke Pearson. Donald kicks off the solos with an invigorating statement; then Pepper succeeds him with a joyfully spirited solo. Duke emerges next for a brisk presentation, and the front line cooks with Lex ahead of the close. Donald introduces the next tune, his own Soulful Kiddy, a blues that slows the beat down for the ensemble’s marching melody. Pepper serves up some down-home cooking in the opening solo. Donald comes into the second reading with carefree enthusiasm; then Duke eases into the spotlight last, leading to the theme’s restatement and climax.

Side Two opens with Donald’s introduction to A Portrait of Jennie by J. Russel Robinson and Gordon Burdge. The quartet showcase begins with the trumpeter’s romantically warm introduction to the melody. He continues mining a rich vein of sentimentality in the first solo. Duke takes over to deliver a very pretty reading until Donald’s return to add a few more comments into the reprise and close. Cecile by Donald Byrd brings the quintet back for a medium blues that commences with the trio’s introduction to the front line, taking the lead in the melody. Pepper takes off first, cruising at a comfortable pace. Donald gets to work next with an impressive interpretation, and then Duke completes the infectious beat in the finale ahead of the quintet’s closing moments.

The set climaxes with the group’s theme, Pure D. Funk. Donald has the showcase to himself in a concise theme and the song’s only solo into the ensemble’s conclusion. Alfred Lion produced Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 1, and Rudy Van Gelder was behind the dials. The reissue has an excellent soundstage transporting the listener to the club audience with excellent fidelity. The unique sound of this album, with its stellar rhythm section and the great chemistry between Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams, is sure to captivate any jazz enthusiast. I invite you to pick up Donald Byrd at The Half Note Café, Volume 1, on your next record shopping trip. It’s a delightful live album that is sure to enjoy repeated plays on the turntable!

Postscript: For those who are unaware, Ruth Mason was a singer and WOV on-air personality who would become Mrs. Alfred Lion. She is also the lovely young woman who appears on the cover of Moods by The Three Sounds.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

David Silliman was born on July 28, 1960 and raised in the San Francisco, California bay area where he was exposed to a wide variety of music. His first studies were in the classical field, studying snare drum, xylophone and timpani. He was later exposed to Jazz, Latin Jazz, Brazilian and Funk music. His current setup varies from the standard American drum set augmented with a South American cajon, drums from the Middle East, Africa and the Caribbean along with various other percussion instruments.

He hass performed on the stages of European and American jazz festivals,  and spent years playing with Blossom Dearie as a member of her trio. He has toured with Al DiMeola, Cassandra Wilson, Leslie Uggams, Mariah Carey, Edmar Castaneda, and performed with Aretha Franklin. He is no stranger to the Broadway pit or the New Jersey Symphony, having sat in the chairs of both.

Drummer and percussionist David Silliman, who has yet to record as a leader, continues to perform.

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Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Charlie Queener was born in Pineville, Kentucky on July 27, 1921 or 1923, the actual year of his birth is in question. During the Forties he worked with the Muggsy Spanier Orchestra, Harry James Orchestra, Benny Goodman Orchestra, Joe Marsala Orchestra, and Glen Gray among others.

Between 1946-50 Queener settled into Nick’s in New York and then spent much of his career freelancing with Dixieland all-stars. Among his associations were Bobby Hackett, Billy Butterfield, Jimmy McPartland, Ruby Braff, Max Kaminsky, Wingy Manone from 1954 to 1960, Wild Bill Davison and with Clarence Hutchenrider on and off from 1958 to 1973, to name a few.

He worked into the 1990s, also composed orchestral works starting in the mid-1960s but never led a record session of his own. Pianist Charlie Queener, who played in Dixieland, swing and mainstream settings, died in July 1997.

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