Duke Pearson
Duke Pearson | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Columbus Calvin Pearson Jr. |
Born | Atlanta, Georgia, U.S | August 17, 1932
Died | August 4, 1980 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S | (aged 47)
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) | Piano |
Years active | 1950s–1980 |
Labels |
Columbus Calvin "Duke" Pearson Jr. (August 17, 1932 – August 4, 1980)
Early life
Pearson was born Columbus Calvin Pearson Jr. in
Career
Pearson performed with different ensembles in Georgia and
On the 1963 Byrd album A New Perspective, Pearson arranged four tracks, including "Cristo Redentor", which became a hit. The composition, Pearson later commented, was inspired by a trip he took to Brazil while touring with Wilson.[5] Also that year, after the death of Ike Quebec, Pearson took over his position as A&R man of Blue Note.[5] From that year until 1970, Pearson was a frequent session musician and producer for numerous Blue Note albums while also recording his own albums as bandleader. This was odd, since Pearson also recorded with his co-led big band with Byrd for Atlantic Records, a stipulation he made sure was in his Atlantic contract.[5] The Byrd-Pearson band consisted of musicians such as Chick Corea, Pepper Adams, Randy Brecker, and Garnett Brown; the latter three were members also of the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis band that played the same night club, The Village Vanguard, but on different nights. Between the two ensembles, the musicians performed at their own discretion.
Pearson's compositions include the now standard, frequently covered "Jeannine", composed c. 1960. An early cover of "Jeannine" appears on the
As a small side project at Blue Note, Pearson penned the liner notes for Grant Green’s 1963 album, Idle Moments. He was the pianist for the recording. Having also composed the album’s title track, he wrote, “I wonder while listening to this recording, just what the people involved were thinking of while idling away (so to speak). The dreamlike mood that prevails gave me the idea of naming this tune Idle Moments.”
Pearson eventually retired from his position with Blue Note in 1971 after personnel changes were made; co-founder Alfred Lion retired in 1967 after the label was sold to Liberty Records the previous year, and co-founder Francis Wolff died in 1971. Pearson opted to teach at Clark College in 1971, toured with Carmen McRae and Joe Williams through 1973, and eventually re-formed his big band during that time.
He was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in the 1970s, from which he died in 1980 at Atlanta Veterans Hospital.[5]
Discography
As leader
Year recorded | Year released | Title | Label | Notes |
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1959 | Profile | Blue Note | Trio, with Gene Taylor (bass), Lex Humphries (drums) | |
1959 | 1960 | Tender Feelin's | Blue Note | Trio, with Gene Taylor (bass), Lex Humphries (drums) |
1961 | 1968 | Angel Eyes | Polydor | Also released as Bags Groove on Black Lion with 3 alternative takes |
1961 | 1970 | Dedication! | Prestige | Reissued by Black Lion in 1989 under Freddie Hubbard's name as Minor Mishap |
1962 | Hush! | Jazztime | ||
1964 | Wahoo! | Blue Note | ||
1965 | 1966 | Honeybuns | Atlantic | |
1966 | Prairie Dog | Atlantic | ||
1966 | 1967 | Sweet Honey Bee | Blue Note | |
1967 | 1968 | The Right Touch | Blue Note | |
1967 | 1968 | Introducing Duke Pearson's Big Band | Blue Note | |
1968 | The Phantom | Blue Note | ||
1968 | 1969 | Now Hear This | Blue Note | |
1969 | How Insensitive | Blue Note | ||
1969 | Merry Ole Soul | Blue Note | ||
1968–70 | 1996 | I Don't Care Who Knows It | Blue Note | |
1970 | 1974 | It Could Only Happen with You | Blue Note |
As sideman
With Donald Byrd
- Fuego (1959)
- Byrd in Flight (1960)
- At the Half Note Cafe (1960)
- The Cat Walk (1961)
- A New Perspective (1963)
- Fancy Free (1970)
- Kofi (1969–70)
- Electric Byrd (1970)
With Johnny Coles
- Little Johnny C (Blue Note, 1963, and arranger)
With Grant Green
- Idle Moments (Blue Note, 1963)
With Bobby Hutcherson
- The Kicker (Blue Note, 1963)
With Thad Jones/Pepper Adams Quintet
- Mean What You Say (Milestone, 1966)
With Carmen McRae
- Carmen (1972)
As Arranger
- Lou Donaldson - Lush Life (1967)
- Donald Byrd - A New Perspective (1963), I'm Tryin' to Get Home (1964)
- Grant Green - Am I Blue (1963)
- Blue Mitchell - Boss Horn (1966), Heads Up! (1967)
- Hank Mobley - A Slice of the Top (1966)
- Lee Morgan - Standards (1967)
- Stanley Turrentine - Rough 'n' Tumble (1966), The Spoiler (1966), A Bluish Bag (1967), The Return of the Prodigal Son (1967), The Look of Love (1968)
References
- ^ ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ a b Ginell, Richard S. "Duke Pearson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
- ^ a b Gitler, Ira (1959). Original liner notes to Profile.
- ^ Gardner, Mark (June 1971). "Wynton Kelly". Coda, vol. 10, p. 37.
- ^ a b c d e "Duke Pearson Discography". February 8, 1998. Retrieved January 4, 2007.
- ^ Cunniffe, Thomas. "Eddie Jefferson: "The Main Man" (Inner City 1033)". Jazz History Online. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
- ^ "Duke Pearson Discography". jazzdisco. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Michael (September 28, 2013). "Duke Pearson Discography". jazzdiscography. Retrieved March 20, 2023.