Albert Washington, Jr.

The lengthy career of the classic jazz saxophonist and clarinetist began in the American Midwest, and swing biographer John Chilton last sighted Albert Washington holding forth using a band in Guadalajara, Mexico, circa the later ’70s. Washington’s dad was a guitarist who proved helpful in Omaha ahead of moving his family members to Chicago. Little Albert, often decreased for an Al in credits, started playing piano in 1912 and turned to reeds many years afterwards. His first instructors included O.K. Schnal and Natty Dominique, the last mentioned acknowledged with hipping him towards the great factors of improvisation. Further impact came from among the many musical households from the New Orleans jazz picture: Washington performed both soprano sax and clarinet in Al Simeon’s Popular Six while learning with Omer Simeon. Through the ’20s he caused such Chicago rings as Al Wynn’s Heaven Evening Owls, Detroit Shannon’s music group, and Louis Armstrong & His Stompers. One of is own attributes was a clear ease active the woodwind family members, playing alto and tenor with Armstrong and merging the tenor using the oboe upon signing up for Erskine Tate’s reed section. Chicago continuing to serve as his bottom in the first ’30s. Following 2 yrs of touring with Armstrong, Washington shifted to NEW YORK and used both Fletcher Henderson and Charlie Turner’s Arcadians. The fantastic pianist and vocalist Fat Waller assumed management of the second option combo from the middle-’30s and Washington remained place. His compatibility with both Armstrong and Waller offered the reedman well when he required component in the unforgettable Satch Plays Fat recordings in the ’50s. At that time Washington had came back to Chicago and found a qualification in music pursuing research in both piano and theory at Roosevelt University or college. He eased right into a fresh career like a music instructor while keeping bandstand choices open with market leaders such as for example Floyd Campbell and Eddie Ruler. Washington continued merging teaching in the Chicago general public colleges with gigging well in to the ’60s and ’70s, his Windy Town carrying out collaborators including Ben Branch, Russell Crider, Ged Hunter, and Big John Woodsit.