Neal Hefti

Among the best jazz arranger/composers from the 1950s, Neal Hefti initial wrote graphs in the later ’30s for Nat Towles. He added arrangements towards the Earl Hines big music group; performed trumpet with Charlie Barnet, Horace Heidt, and Charlie Spivak (1942-1943); and toured with Woody Herman’s First Herd (1944-1946), marrying Herman’s vocalist Francis Wayne. It had been with Herman that Hefti begun to get a solid reputation, organizing an up to date “Woodchopper’s Ball” and “Blowin’ Up a Surprise,” and composing “THE NICE Globe” and “Crazy Main.” He also got a notable single throughout a Lucky Thompson program on “From Dixieland to Bop.” Nevertheless, Hefti shortly relegated his trumpet playing to a second position (although he performed it on an intermittent basis in to the 1960s) and focused on his composing. He contributed graphs towards the orchestras of Charlie Ventura (1946), Harry Wayne (1948-1949), & most notably Count number Basie (1950-1962). For Basie, he published “Small Pony,” “Cute,” “Li’l Darling,” “Whirlybird,” and several other swinging tunes, often making use of Frank Wess’ flute in inventive style. Neal Hefti also led his personal bands on / off in the 1950s, however in later years focused on composing for movies while remaining affected by his encounters within the jazz globe. Hefti passed on at his California house on Oct 11, 2008, at age group 85.