The Jazz Voyager
Hanging out in the Big Apple is one of my favorite summertime things to do because it’s one of the best places to walk. The sights and sounds are amazing from the Vilage to Park Avenue, Rockefeller Plaza to Central Park Carousel and Zoo. Uptown to Harlem is the last destination, a quick fashion update, a good meal and then to where this jazz voyager will be in the Minton’s Playhouse audience this evening.
Established in 1938 by saxophonist Henry Minton, the venue stands as a pivotal shrine in the history of jazz, renowned as the birthplace of Bebop. Over the ensuing decades, it served as the epicenter for a revolutionary shift in jazz, laying the foundations for modern jazz.
Vocalist Vanisha Gould is being hosted at this venerable establishment for one night only. Anticipation is what this voyager is eagerly awaiting in hopes that she will be grooving to the sounds of the next generation of jazz musicians, as well as transporting us back to the golden age of jazz.
The venue is located at 206 West 118th Street, New York City, NY 10026. For more information visit https://www.mintonsnyc.com.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Monk Hazel was born Arthur Frank Hazel to a drummer father on August 15, 1903 in Harvey, Louisiana. Early on he played drums with Emmett Hardy, who gave him his first cornet, and then with Stalebread Lacombe. In the 1920s he worked with many bands including the Halfway House Orchestra led by Abbie Brunies, Tony Parenti with whom he recorded in 1928, and Johnny Wiggs.
From the late 1920s to the early 1930s, Hazel led his own Bienville Roof Orchestra which played atop the Bienville Hotel at Lee Circle, and made recordings in 1928 and then spent time in New York playing with Johnny Wiggs, Jack Pettis and with his own group from 1929 to 1931.
Hazel relocated to Hollywood in Los Angeles, California for a period working with Gene Austin but eventually returned to New Orleans, Louisiana performing with Joe Caprano in 1937 and the Lloyd Danton Quintet. He spent 1942-43 in the Army and then worked for a time outside of music.
During his final twenty years, Hazel was once again active in New Orleans, recording with his own band in 1945 and performing with Sharkey Bonano from 1949 to 1952, George Girard, Mike Lala, Santo Pecora and virtually every other important name in New Orleans jazz.
As a leader, Monk recorded four titles in 1928 for Brunswick Records and a full album for Southland Records in 1954; Pete Fountain and Al Hirt were among his sidemen on the latter recording.
Drummer and cornetist Monk Hazel, who occasionally took cornet and mellophone solos, died on March 5, 1968 in New Orleans.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Francis Henry “Jumbo Jack” Gardner was born in Joliet, Illinois on August 14, 1903. In the early-1920s he played locally in Denver, Colorado with Doc Becker’s Blue Devils, Boyd Senter’s band and others.
Moving to Chicago, Illinois in 1923, he led his own band in addition to playing with musicians like Wingy Manone, Jean Goldkette, and Gene Austin. He remained in the city through 1937, playing with Jimmy McPartland in 1936.
When he rellcated to New York City he began associations with Sandy Williams’s orchestra and Harry James, but returned to Chicago early in the 1940s, where he led his own group. In 1944, he recorded with Baby Dodds.
He spent much of his later life playing in Dallas, Texas, where he died in 1957. Gardner’s compositions include the song Bye, Bye, Pretty Baby, co-written with George Hamilton.
Pianist Jack Gardner died on November 26, 1957 in Dallas, Texas at the age of 54.
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Charlie Galbraith was born August 13, 1920 in Lambeth, London, England. In the late 1940s he worked with the John Haim Jelly Roll Kings, Cy Laurie, Reg Rigden and Mike Daniels.
From 1949 to 1954 Charlie led his own group, Jazzmen and in late 1954 with Eric Silk, Bobby Mickleburg the following year, George Webb, Joe Daniels and Kenny Ball for two years beginning in 1957.
1960 saw Galbraith leading his own All Stars Jazz Band and in 1963 co-led with trumpeter Brian Jones. He later worked with Monty Sunshine and Joe Daniels through the end of the decade.
During the 1970s and Eighties he led his own band. Trombonist and singer Charlie Galbraith died January 16, 1997 in London, England.
Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Bent Axen was born on August 12, 1925 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Axen played for a year with Ib Renard in 1949 and in 1950 became a member of the Johnny Campbell and Max Brüel bands until 1958. He then moved on to work in Ib Glindemann’s orchestra. In 1960 he founded his own jazz quintet and also accompanied guest soloists such as Eric Dolphy in Erik Moseholm ‘s trio.
Between 1961 and 1967 he was a member of the radio jazz groups of Danmarks Radio, for which he also wrote compositions. He also performed with Don Byas. He went on to work as a theater musician and composer, first at Gladsaxe Teater and from 1971 at Folketeatret.
In 1960 he was honored as Danish “Jazz Musician of the Year”. Pianist, theatre and film composer Bent Axen, who released a half dozen albums as a leader, died on May 20, 2010.