Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Fernand Coppieters was born in Brussels, Belgium on March 3, 1905. He took up piano in his youth and also played the Hammond organ. His first professional work was with the ensemble Bistrouille ADO in 1920 at age 15. Following this, he played in the Red Mills Ragtime Band and the Rhythmic Novelty Dance Orchestra.
Leaving Belgium for France he landed a place in Fud Candrix’s ensemble in France and Holland. Returning to Brussels in 1929, he played in a trio with René Compère and again with Candrix. Soon after this, he joined the 16 Baker Boys, led by Robert de Kers and, later, Oscar Aleman.
In the early 1930s, he accompanied Josephine Baker on tours of Europe, then worked with Roland Dorsay, Candrix once again, and Willie Lewis. In the 1940s and 1950s, he recorded as a leader and worked as a house pianist for Radio Schaerbeek, an independent Belgian radio station.
In the late 1950s and 1960s, he recorded several albums on Hammond organ, for Fontana Records and Philips Records. Pianist and organist Fernand Coppieters, who also played accordion, saxophone, and violin, transitioned on September 9, 1981 in Brussels.
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CORY WEEDS LITTLE BIG BAND
Take it from Downbeat Magazine: “renaissance man Cory Weeds has the Midas Touch!” An indefatigable force on the Vancouver scene, the tenor saxophonist and impresario keeps the flame of classic straight-ahead jazz burning bright. Inspired by tenor heroes Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis and Gene Ammons, Weeds calls on all-star cast of Vancouver musicians to perform with Weeds before heading into the studio!
Conducted by Jill Townsend, the Little Big Band features Cory Weeds on tenor saxophone, Steve Kaldestad on alto sax, James Danderfer on tenor sax, Dave Say on baritone sax, Brad Turner on trumpet, Chris Davis on trumpet, Brian Harding on trombone, Jim Hopson on trombone, Chris Gestrin on piano, John Lee on bass and Jesse Cahill on drums
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Three Wishes
Baroness Pannonica approached Teddy Edwards and as the conversation ensued she asked him if he was given three what would he wish for. His answered:
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- “I wish peace.”
- “Love.”
- “And health.”
*Excerpt from Three Wishes: An Intimate Look at Jazz Greats ~ Compiled and Photographed by Pannonica de Koenigswarter
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Albert Omega Sears was born February 21, 1910 in Macomb, Illinois. His first major gig came in 1928 when he replaced Johnny Hodges in Chick Webb’s ensemble. The Thirties had him first playing with Elmer Snowden, then led his own groups between 1933 and 1941.
In the early 1940s he joined Andy Kirk and Lionel Hampton before he became a member of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra in 1944, replacing Ben Webster. He remained with Ellington until 1949, when first Jimmy Forrest and then Paul Gonsalves took over his chair. He played with Johnny Hodges in 1951–52 and recorded the tune Castle Rock with him. The tune became a hit but unfortunately was released under Hodges’s name.
Sears was in Alan Freed’s band when Freed did live shows, being introduced as “Big Al Sears”. He played as a studio musician on R&B albums in the 1950s and recorded two albums for Swingville in 1960. He also owned several record labels, including Arock, Serock, and Gator.
Tenor saxophonist and bandleader Al Sears, who recorded four albums as a leader, transitioned on March 23, 1990 in St. Albans, New York at the age of 80.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Glenn Spearman was born on February 14, 1947 in New York City, New York. music was a part of his life from an early age. His father was a singer and academic who performed on stage in Broadway musicals as well as in opera. By the age of six, the young lad was playing piano, but throughout the years he tried his hand at different instruments. By the time he was in high school he had settled on the tenor sax.
Attending college in Colorado on a sports scholarship, Glenn realized that music held a stronger attraction for him than sports, and he eventually dropped out of school to focus on his music. He became active in Oakland, California in the late 1960s, however, he moved to Paris, Francein 1972 and founded the band Emergency with bassist Bob Reid. This group recorded two albums, performed on radio and television in France, and appeared at the festival in Avignon. He was artist-in-residence in Rotterdam, Netherlands and toured through Europe before returning to the United States in 1978.
Following his return he worked in the Cecil Taylor Unit, primarily out of San Francisco, California though he performed on both sides of the Atlantic through the 1980s. In the 1990s, he led the Double Trio which included Larry Ochs, William Winant, and Lisle Ellis as sidemen; this ensemble played at the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. They were commissioned for a piece by the Move Dance Theater which was performed at Laney College.
He worked with the Rova Saxophone Quartet and with filmmaker Lynn Marie Kirby in addition to teaching at Mills College. Tenor saxophonist Glenn Spearman, who was associated with free jazz and experimental music, transitioned from cancer on October 8, 1998 in Berkeley, California.
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