Ulysses Livingston

Ulysses Livingston’s name is surely probably one of the most auspicious-sounding among guitarists in the jazz idiom. Even though greater popularity was granted to simpler deals with such as for example Jim Hall and Joe Move, Livingston still piled-up discographical credits that could mightily win over any bean counter-top — actually including a part or two with “Bean” himself, specifically tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins. Like Speedy Sparks of Austin, Tx, Livingston’s professional music profession started like a roadie, although in the Horace Henderson music group this placement was known as “valet.” And just like the avant-garde guitarist Joe Morris, Livingston started focusing on playing electrical bass after many decades like a guitarist. Livingston started this musical existence in the Western Virginia State University Band, departing that for the previously explained gainful employment using the Henderson mob. Following that he came back to Western world Virginia, using the region being a bottom to secure gigs with roaming carnival rings. He strums his method in to the jazz picture body in the middle-’30s, executing with Lil Armstrong, Frankie Newton, Sammy Cost, and Benny Carter. Like many a musician, this activity ultimately included residencies in NEW YORK. In the first ’40s the guitarist started touring and documenting with the fantastic jazz vocalist Ella Fitzgerald. This is an interval where many musicians had been sidetracked in to the armed service, to either play music on bases or in fact march in the infantry. Livingston’s participation was short, despite any heroic referrals his 1st name may evoke. By 1943 he was back again within the music picture, this time using the Western Coastline. The move also appeared to involve a big change in musical path, moving toward tempo & blues or the sort of vocal group sound that was well-known before the previous term was actually established. He performed guitar and in addition sang in organizations like the Spirits of Tempo aswell as leading his personal Four Blazes, a combo moniker that is found in music background using the regularity of summer season forest fires. The advancement of this kind of music in Hawaii also entails Livingston, with collaborator Cee Pee Johnson. Livingston continuing focusing on a freelance basis in the ’50s, settling in LA and developing an experience in consumer electronics that resulted in dual obligations at recording classes. In the ’70s he was better called an electrical bassist, but he continuing to record on acoustic guitar as well.