Cliff Smalls
Clifton Arnold (3 March 1918 – 2008), better known as Cliff Smalls,[1] was an American jazz trombonist, pianist, conductor and arranger who worked in the jazz, soul and rhythm & blues genres.[2][3]
Early life
Smalls was raised in Charleston, South Carolina.[3] His father, a carpenter, performed piano and organ for Charleston's Central Baptist Church. He taught Smalls classical music at an early age.[2]
Later life and career
Jazz, early years of bebop
Smalls left Charleston with the Carolina Cotton Pickers,
Singers, popular direction, return to jazz roots
After the inevitable post-World War II break-up of the Hines big-band, Smalls went on to play and record in smaller ensembles with his former
Recovering, Smalls shifted his musical career to serve as
In the 1970s Smalls returned to jazz-recording, including four solo tracks for The Complete Master Jazz Piano Series in 1970, with Sy Oliver in 1973, Texas Twister with Buddy Tate in 1975, Swing and Things in 1976 and 'Caravan' in France in 1978.
In 1980 Smalls was featured playing piano in The Cotton Club, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
References
- ^ Feather, Leonard and Ira Gitler. The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz
- ^ a b c d Jazz Initiative "Smalls, 'Cliff' Clifton"[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b c d Chadbourne, Eugene Allmusic biography
- ^ 'Bandleader Earl Bostic made a $14,000 out-of-court settlement on a suit that his ex-piano player, Cliff Smalls, filed against him for injuries sustained in an auto accident four years ago": Jet [magazine] 7 Nov 1957
- ^ The Jazz Artist, Vol III No 1 1999: interview with Sue Terry
- ^ The New York Times: Sy Oliver obituary May 28, 1988