Jazziversaries August 30th
Gerald Albright (saxophone) - 1957 :: Birthday greetings to sax player Gerald Albright. Beginning in the late '80s, saxophone master Gerald Albright recorded numerous successful solo albums for Atlantic when he wasn't busy assisting an impressive, and mammoth, roster of popular R&B artists.
Born in South Central Los Angeles, the saxophonist idolized James Brown and took much influence from Maceo Parker and Cannonball Adderley. He first made a name for himself within the music industry during the 1980s, when he became a highly requested session musician.
His revered reputation resulted in a solo contract with Atlantic Records. His first album for the label, Just Between Us, introduced him to the masses in 1987, and numerous albums resulted, including a best-of collection in 2001.
Albright's fame peaked in the early '90s, around the time he released Live at Birdland West, a brave album for the saxman showcasing his ability to play jazz as well as R&B. He moved from Atlantic to GRP in 2002 for the Groovology album, his first in over five years, and continued to maintain his busy schedule as a session man.
His second GRP album, Kickin' It Up, followed in 2004. Two years later he appeared on Peak Records, which released New Beginnings. In 2010, his album Pushing the Envelope landed on the Heads Up label. In 2012, Albright paired with guitarist Norman Brown for the Concord release 24/7.
John Surman (saxophone) - 1944:: Happy birthday to UK sax player, John Surman. John is also a bass clarinet and synthesizer player, and composer of free jazz and modal jazz, often using themes from folk music as a basis. He has also composed and performed much music for dance performances and film soundtracks.
Surman initially gained recognition playing baritone saxophone in the Mike Westbrook Band in the mid-1960s, and was soon heard regularly playing soprano saxophone and bass clarinet as well.
In 1969 he founded the well-regarded and influential group The Trio along with two expatriate American musicians, bassist Barre Phillips and drummer Stu Martin.
In the mid-1970s he founded one of the earliest all-saxophone jazz groups, S.O.S., along with alto saxophonist Mike Osborne and tenor saxophonist Alan Skidmore. By 1972 he had begun experimenting with synthesizers. That year he recorded Westering Home, the first of several solo projects on which he played all parts himself via overdubbing.
He recorded his final album with Mike Westbrook, Citadel/Room 315 in 1975. His relationship with ECM Records has also been continuous from the late 1970s to the present, as Surman has recorded prolifically for the label playing bass clarinet, recorders, soprano and baritone saxophones and using synthesisers, both solo with a wide range of other musicians.
In recent years he has composed several suites of music that feature his playing in unusual contexts, including with church organ and chorus (Proverbs and Songs, 1996); with a classical string quintet (Coruscating); and with the London Brass and Jack DeJohnette (Free and Equal, 2001).
A new solo album is due to be released on ECM records during June 2012. Entitled “SALTASH BELLS” (ECM 2266) it follows in the tradition of his previous solo albums such as “PRIVATE CITY” and “THE ROAD TO ST IVES”
John´s new work for Male Voice Choir, piano and sax”LIFELINES”, is due to premiere in Huddersfield Town Hall on Nov 17th 2012 and at the London Jazz Festival in the QEH on the 18th where it will be recorded by BBC Radio 3. The prize-winning Bolsterstone Male Voice Choir will be featured along with pianist Howard Moody.
Kenny Dorham (trumpet) - 1924-1972 :: was a jazz trumpeter, singer, and composer born in Fairfield, Texas.
Dorham's talent is frequently lauded by critics and other musicians, but he never received the kind of attention from the jazz establishment that many of his peers did or public recognition. For this reason, his name has become (in the words of writer Gary Giddins) "virtually synonymous with underrated."
He also composed the jazz standard "Blue Bossa," which first appeared on Joe Henderson's album Page One.
Dorham was one of the most active bebop trumpeters. He played in the big bands of Lionel Hampton, Billy Eckstine, Dizzy Gillespie, and Mercer Ellington and the quintet of Charlie Parker.
He was a charter member of the original cooperative Jazz Messengers. He also recorded as a sideman with Thelonious Monk and Sonny Rollins, and he replaced Clifford Brown in the Max Roach Quintet after Brown's death in 1956.
In addition to sideman work, he led his own groups, including the Jazz Prophets (formed shortly after Art Blakey took over the Jazz Messengers name). The Jazz Prophets, featuring a young Bobby Timmons on piano, bassist Sam Jones and tenorman J. R. Monterose with guest Kenny Burrell on guitar, recorded a live album 'Round About Midnight at the Cafe Bohemia in 1956 for Blue Note.
In 1963 Dorham added the 26-year-old tenor saxophonist Joe Henderson to his group, which later recorded Una Mas (the group also featured a young Tony Williams). The friendship between the two musicians led to a number of other albums, such as Henderson's Page One, Our Thing and In 'n Out.
Dorham recorded frequently throughout the sixties for Blue Note and Prestige Records, as leader and as sideman for Henderson, Jackie McLean, Cedar Walton, Andrew Hill, Milt Jackson and others.
Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson (guitar) 1934 1976 :: was an American Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was also known as Luther "Snake" Johnson or Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, and was otherwise billed as both Luther King and Little Luther (under the latter he recorded for Chess Records in the 1960s).
After service in the US Army up to 1953,Johnson played guitar with a local gospel group called the Milwaukee Supreme Angels. However, he graduated towards blues and set up his own trio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before relocating to Chicago, Illinois in the early 1960s.
He backed Elmore James prior to his death, and in 1964, released a solo single on the Chess Records label entitled "The Twirl", billed as Little Luther. He then joined Muddy Waters backing band in 1966.Johnson worked with various musicians over this period, including Chicago Bob Nelson, before recording his debut album, Come on Home in 1969.
In 1970, Johnson moved to Boston, Massachusetts, and found work on the blues festival and college circuits for the next few years.Black & Blue Records released Johnson's Born in Georgia in 1972, and this was followed by Chicken Shack (1974), Lonesome in My Bedroom (1975), and the final album issued in his lifetime, Get Down to the Nitty Gritty (1976).
"They're not particular about whether you're playing a flatted fifth or a ruptured 129th as long as they can dance to it." - Dizzy Gillespie
Happy August 30th to you Jazzlings, especially if you are celebrating your birthday today! Here's wishing you a special day and an extra special year ahead!
Thansks to the folks at AAJ & JBC for the guidance!
Special thank you to Jason Birchmeier @ AllMusic.com for the Gerald Albright bio.
Respect to the YouTube Massive for the fantastic array of clips, seems to be always something there, kid in a sweetshop time trust me!
Warm hugs and cuddles to the blog followers, thank You for the support
and thanks to You for passin' thru'
Go Placidly
Geo
