Tag Archives: David “Fathead”

An extroverted trombone stylist best-known for his association with Duke Ellington, Buster Cooper’s witty design (which sometimes involves striking repeated, humorous high records towards the end of a track) is usually a joy to listen to. In early stages, he used Nat Towles’ territory music group in Tx. Cooper caused …

NEW YORK retro-funk combo the Sugarman 3 were formed by saxophonist Neal Sugarman in the planting season of 1996 pursuing his come back from New Orleans, where he backed performers including Eddie Henderson and Mike Longo. Teaming with organist Adam Scone (a one-time protégé of Ben Dixon) and longtime Sibling …

As the longtime backing singers behind R&B immortal Ray Charles, the Raelettes deftly navigated the tightrope separating the sacred as well as the profane, infusing their gospel-inspired call-and-response vocals with a robust eroticism that vaulted Charles to new degrees of commercial and creative triumph. The root base from the Raelettes …

A saxophonist noted for his light, sensual modern jazz audio, Sam Riney was perhaps better called an accompanist than being a bandleader. Among his first performances on record was the 1983 LP Variations, headlined by previous Doorways guitarist Robby Krieger, and through the remainder from the 10 years he set …

In the 1990s, Houston Person kept the soulful thick-toned tenor tradition of Gene Ammons alive, particularly in his use organists. After learning piano like a youngsters, Person turned to tenor. While stationed in Germany using the Military, he performed in organizations that also included Eddie Harris, Lanny Morgan, Leo Wright, …

Lou Donaldson is definitely a fantastic bop altoist influenced by Charlie Parker, but with a far more blues-based design of his own. His exclusive tone continues to be heard in a number of small-group configurations, and he provides recorded a large number of valuable and spirited (if relatively predictable) sets …

Among the great tenors, Illinois Jacquet’s 1942 “Soaring Home” single is definitely the initial R&B sax single, and spawned a complete era of younger tenors (including Joe Houston and Big Jay McNeely) who also built their professions from his design, and practically from that 1 music. Jacquet, whose old sibling …

Baritone saxophonist Leroy Cooper served 2 decades to get R&B icon Ray Charles, including a protracted stint as music movie director — the fruits of the cooperation include such common Charles recordings seeing that “Unchain My Heart,” “Crying Period,” and “America the stunning.” Delivered August 31, 1928, in Dallas, Cooper …

With an unmistakable blues wail, filled with emotion and poignancy, altoist Hank Crawford bridges the gap between that tradition which of jazz more completely than every other living horn player. Delivered in Memphis, Crawford was steeped within the blues custom from an early on age. He started playing piano but …

A thrilling tenor saxophonist whose honking and squeals (although influenced simply by Illinois Jacquet) were quite exclusive, Willis Jackson was also a solid improviser who sounded perfectly aware of body organ groups. He performed locally in Florida in early stages, until signing up for Cootie Williams (on / off during …