Don Redman
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Don Redman | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Donald Matthew Redman |
Born | Piedmont, West Virginia, U.S. | July 29, 1900
Died | November 30, 1964 New York City | (aged 64)
Genres | Jazz, swing |
Occupation(s) | Arranger, composer, musician |
Instrument(s) | Clarinet, saxophone, vocals |
Years active | 1920–1960 |
Donald Matthew Redman (July 29, 1900 – November 30, 1964)
Biography
Redman was born in
Career
In 1923, Redman joined the Fletcher Henderson orchestra, mostly playing clarinet and saxophones.[3]
He began writing arrangements, and Redman did much to formulate the sound that was to become
In 1927, Jean Goldkette persuaded Redman to join McKinney's Cotton Pickers as their musical director and leader.[1] He was responsible for their great success and arranged over half of their music (splitting the arranging duties with John Nesbitt through 1931).
Don Redman and his Orchestra
Redman formed his own band in 1931,
In 1933, his band made a Vitaphone short film for Warner Bros. (which is available as of 2006 on the DVD of the Busby Berkeley feature film Dames). Redman recorded for Brunswick through 1934. He then did a number of sides for ARC in 1936 (issued on their Vocalion, Perfect, Melotone, etc.) and in 1937, he pioneered a series of swing re-arrangements of old classic pop tunes for the Variety label. His use of a swinging vocal group (called "The Swing Choir") was very modern and quite unusual with Redman's sophisticated counterpoint melodies. He signed with Bluebird in 1938 and recorded with them until 1940, when he disbanded.[1]
When Redman disbanded his orchestra, he concentrated on freelance work writing arrangements.
In the early 1960s, he played piano for the Georgia Minstrels Concert and soprano sax with Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle's band.[4]
Death and posthumous tribute
Don Redman died in New York City on November 30, 1964, aged 64, from undisclosed causes.[1]
He was named a member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame on May 6, 2009.[5]
Discography
As leader
- 1931–33 The Chronological D R 1931-1933 (Classics #543, 1990)
- 1933–36 The Chronological D R 1933-1936 (Classics #553, 1991)
- 1936–39 The Chronological D R 1936-1939 (Classics #574, 1991)
- How'm I Doin' Hey Hey (Brunswick 6273, 1932)
- Doin' the New Lowdown (Brunswick 6520, 1932)
- Doin' the New Lowdown (Hep, 1994)[6]
As sideman
With Fletcher Henderson
- A Study in Frustration (Columbia, 1961) (4lp box set)
- Wrappin' It Up (Membran, 2005)
- Sweet and Hot (Le Chant du Monde, 2007)
With McKinney's Cotton Pickers
- The Chronological McK C P 1928–1929 (Classics, 1991)
- The Chronological McK C P 1929–1930 (Classics, 1991)
- McKinney's Cotton Pickers, 1930–1931/Don Redman & His Orchestra, 1939–1940 (Classics, 1992)
- Put It There, Volume 1 – 1928–29 (Frog, 1999)
- Cotton Picker's Scat, Volume 2 – 1930 (Frog, 1999)
- Shag Nasty, Volume 3 The Alternate Masters (Frog, 1999)
References
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
- ^ Profile Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, Jazzpolice.com; accessed July 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "Don Redman". AllMusic. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
- ^ "Redman, Don(ald Matthew)". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved July 31, 2021.
- ^ "The Class of 2009 - West Virginia Headline News and Talk Radio". Archived from the original on February 17, 2012. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- ^ Yanow, Scott. "Doin' the New Lowdown". AllMusic. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
External links
- Don Redman and his Orchestra – The Syncopated Times
- Don Redman profile, redhotjazz.com
- Profile Archived February 28, 2021, at the Wayback Machine, newstribune.info
- Don Redman recordings at the Discography of American Historical Recordings.