Russell Procope

Biography

A fantastic altoist, Russell Procope became very much better-known as a fresh Orleans-style clarinetist during his Duke Ellington years. He analyzed violin for eight years before switching to clarinet and alto. Procope documented with Jelly Move Morton in 1928 and experienced important stints using the big rings of Benny Carter (1929), Chick Webb (1929-1931), Fletcher Henderson (1931-1934), Tiny Bradshaw (1934-1935), Teddy Hill (1935-37), and Willie Bryant. Nevertheless, it had been as an associate from the John Kirby sextet (1938-1943) where he exclusively performed alto that Russell Procope do his finest function, playing amazing solos with a unique tone that flawlessly match the music. Over time in the Military along with a reunion with Kirby (1945), Procope joined up with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in 1946, remaining (aside from a brief period in 1961 with Wilbur DeParis) until Ellington’s loss of life 28 years later on in 1974. Due to Johnny Hodges’ existence, Procope had hardly any alto solos, providing instead like a section participant and periodic clarinet soloist whose warm firmness contrasted with this from the cooler Jimmy Hamilton; Procope was under-utilized but protected and content during his Ellington years. Later on in the 1970s, he used Brooks Kerr’s group.

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