Daily Dose Of Jazz…
William Frank Reichenbach Sr. was born on December 18, 1923 in Washington, D.C. and started his musical career even before he graduated from the McKinley Tech High School. During World War II, he played in a band of the Navy before he toured with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, and Art Mooney. Later he worked in the jazz clubs of his hometown, where he accompanied Frank Sinatra, Patti Page, Teddy Wilson, and Zoot Sims.
Charlie Byrd hired Reichenbach as an additional drummer for the Stan Getz album Jazz Samba, recorded in 1962. This recording provoked a wave of enthusiasm for bossa nova in the United States. That same year he replaced Buddy Deppenschmidt in the Byrd trio, and stayed as a member for twelve years. Departing from Byrd, he returned to work in Washington D.C., as the house drummer at the Blues Alley.
Drummer and percussionist Bill Reichenbach, who co-developed the jazz-samba drumming style, transitioned following a series of strokes in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 84 on May 16, 2008.
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ROSE MAX, RAMATIS & BRIAN POTTS
Street Stage Project on the steps of the Old Post Office
No Cover | All Ages
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Three Wishes
While hanging out with Nica having conversation one evening, she inquired of Willie Bobo that if given three wishes that would be granted what would he wish for and he replied:
- “Health.”
- “Wealth.”
- “Time to enjoy it!”
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Eddie Graham was born on November 18, 1937 in New York City. Inspired by his father who played the trombone, he acquired an early interest in rhythm which prompted him to begin the study of drums at age nine. After moving with his family from New York to Miami, Florida at 14, he had a continuing television series on WTVJ with his Swing Kings. During this time his interest in Dixieland jazz was fostered by an acquaintance with drummer “Preacher” Rollo Laylan who frequently imported jazz names to Miami.
Attending the University of Miami he performed for several seasons with the Miami Symphony before migrating to California to accompany such diverse luminaries as Jack Jones, Elvis Presley, and Anita O’Day. He toured as accompanist and conductor for Roberta Sherwood, Vic Dana and Kay Stevens during the Sixties. Eddie settled in Las Vegas, Nevada on a long term contract with Latin concert pianist, Esquivel. He toured Japan with the Village Stompers, and appeared on television with ragtime pianist Big Tiny Little. As a percussionist in the Vegas showrooms, he accompanied Rich Little, Sammy Davis Jr., Presley, Johnny Mathis, and Mack Davis, while hitting the stage with his own jazz group.
The early seventies saw him in Hawaii with trombonist Trummy Young and then hooked up with Earl “Fatha” Hines as a featured artist from 1975 to 1980. On concert tours in Europe, Australia, South America and Japan, Ed has appeared with such artists as Benny Carter, Joe Venuti, Bobby Hackett, Red Norvo, Dorothy Donegan, Barney Bigard, and Stan Getz.
Graham went on to record two albums as a leader, one studio and one live, Hot Stix and S’Wonderful Jazz, respectively. He recorded with Earl Hines on Tony Bennet’s Improv record label, with Marva Josie and a collaboration with trumpeter Billy Butterfield.
In the 80’s, he was a musical director and featured soloist in Las Vegas, and a member of the Peanuts Hucko Quartet in Palm Springs, Califonia. He [layed numerous festivals and clubs around the country during this period, and was a founding member of the 21 piece Monterey Peninsula Jazz Orchestra as percussionist and soloist at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch in Carmel. At eighty-five drummer Eddie Graham still occasionally plays.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Lawrence Benjamin Bunker was born November 4, 1928 in Long Beach, California. At first he played primarily drums, but increasingly he focused on vibraphone. He was later highly regarded for his playing of timpani and various percussion instruments.
Bunker is a dependable and in-demand studio drummer and vibist who achieved distinction recording with Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Diana Krall, and many other jazz greats. In 1952, he was the drummer in one of Art Pepper’s first groups. The next two years he played drums in some of the earliest of Gerry Mulligan’s groups.
In the 1950s and 1960s he appeared at Howard Rumsey’s Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach, and performed with Shorty Rogers and His Giants and others. The Sixties had him intermittently drumming in the Bill Evans trio and played timpani with the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra.
His work in movie soundtracks spanned over fifty years, from Stalag 17 in 1953 and Glengarry Glen Ross in ‘92) to The Incredibles in 2004. Larry’s work included soundtracks by John Williams, Henry Mancini, Quincy Jones, Miklós Rózsa, Jerry Goldsmith, Johnny Mandel, Lalo Schifrin and many other composers.
Drummer, vibraphonist, and percussionist Larry Bunker, who was a central figure on the West Coast jazz scene, transitioned from complications of a stroke in Los Angeles, California at age 76 on March 8, 2005.
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