Duke Pearson

Biography

Duke Pearson was an accomplished, lyrical, and logical — if rather cautious — pianist who also played a large component in shaping the Blue Notice label’s hard bop path in the 1960s like a producer. He’ll probably be greatest remembered for composing several appealing, catchy pieces, probably the most unforgettable becoming the moody “Cristo Redentor” for Donald Byrd, “Nice Honey Bee” for himself and Lee Morgan, and “Jeannine,” which includes turn into a much-covered jazz regular. Pearson was launched to brass devices as well as the piano like a youngsters, and his capabilities on the second option influenced his uncle, an Ellington admirer, to provide him his nickname. Dental care problems pressured Pearson to give up the brass family members, so he worked well like a pianist in Atlanta and somewhere else in Georgia and Florida before shifting to NY in 1959. There, he became a member of Donald Byrd’s music group as well as the Artwork Farmer-Benny Golson Sextet, and offered as Nancy Wilson’s accompanist. In 1963, he organized four figures for jazz septet and eight-voice choir on Byrd’s innovative A FRESH Perspective album; among the music was “Cristo Redentor,” which became a jazz strike. From 1963 to 1970, Pearson was responsible for several recording classes for Blue Notice, while also saving the majority of his albums like a innovator. He also led a large music group from 1967 to 1970 and once again in 1972, employing players like Pepper Adams, Chick Corea, Lew Tabackin, Randy Brecker, and Garnett Dark brown. Pearson continuing to accompany vocalists in the 1970s, such as for example Carmen McRae, but he spent a great deal of the second option fifty percent of the 10 years fighting the ravages of multiple sclerosis.

Quick Facts