Gene Rodgers

Virtually every jazz record collector has heard a sampling of pianist Gene Rodgers yet most likely not realized it, for Rodgers took the famous four-bar piano introduction in Coleman Hawkins’ classic rendition of “Body And Soul” in 1939! A talented swing-based pianist, Rodgers acquired a long profession although he hardly ever became well-known. He was a specialist as soon as 1924 and by 1928 was employed in NY. Rodgers documented with Clarence Williams and Ruler Oliver and caused Chick Webb and Teddy Hill amongst others. The pianist produced a variety action within the middle-1930’s, touring america, Britain and Australia and documenting with Benny Carter in the uk in 1936. Back the U.S., Rodgers proved helpful and documented with Coleman Hawkins (1939-40), is at Zutty Singleton’s Trio along with Erskine Hawkins’ big music group (1943). Rodgers worked well in LA for a few years (showing up within the film Feelings of 1945 using one quantity with Cab Calloway opposing fellow pianist Dorothy Donegan) and led his personal trio, mostly employed in NY. In 1981-82 he worked well for an interval using the Harlem Blues and Jazz Music group. As a innovator, Gene Rodgers just recorded on several events: two amounts for Vocalion in 1936, four for Joe Davis in 1945 and isolated trio albums for EmArcy (a definitive outing from 1958), Dark & Blue (1972) and 88 Up Best (1980).