Art Tatum . Who was the first important electric guitarist in jazz? Of all the instruments in the rhythm section, this one was slowest to reach artistic maturity: string bass.
| Charlie Christian | Associated acts Benny Goodman |
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When guitarist Charlie Christian
Ellington sought out musicians with unique playing styles, such as Bubber Miley, who used a plunger to make the “wa-wa” sound, and Joe Nanton, who gave the world his trombone “growl.” At various times, his ensemble included the trumpeter Cootie Williams , cornetist Rex Stewart and alto saxophonist Johnny Hodges.
| Gene Krupa | Occupation(s) Musician bandleader composer | Instruments Drums | Years active 1920s–1973 | Associated acts Eddie Condon, Benny Goodman, Louie Bellson, Anita O’Day, Buddy Rich |
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Early years: 1880s-1920s
Buddy Bolden , one of the earliest jazz musicians, played in a band in 1889 that was led by guitarist Charlie Galloway. King Oliver, another important early figure, belonged to a band in 1910 that was led by guitarist Louis Keppard, brother of Freddie Keppard.
The first electric guitar
It was around 1936 when a jazz guitarist named Charlie Christian (1916-1942) began using an acoustic guitar with a pickup attached to the body, with the intention of playing guitar solos in his band.
Who is given credit for first using the electric guitar in big bands? Count Basie .
Charlie Parker, byname of Charles Parker, Jr. , also called Bird or Yardbird, (born August 29, 1920, Kansas City, Kansas, U.S.—died March 12, 1955, New York City, New York), American alto saxophonist, composer, and bandleader, a lyric artist generally considered the greatest jazz saxophonist.
What swing bandleader was a singer and entertainer who wowed both black and white audiences by evoking the Harlem underworld? Benny Goodman’s swing band broke through to mainstream success.
Duke Ellington was the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time. ... His gift of melody and mastery of sonic textures, rhythms, and compositional forms translated into a body of music unequaled in jazz history.
While a masterful and sensitive pianist, Ellington ultimately proved that his true instrument was the American Orchestra itself . ... A masterful composer of pop melodies, a keen orchestrator, and an endless innovator, Ellington also saw the potential of the American Orchestra to tackle longer-form compositions.
Ellington’s friends noticed that he acted like a gentleman, and gave him a nickname, “Duke”.” At first, Ellington was more interested in baseball than playing the piano. He later remembered President Theodore Roosevelt watched him play baseball .
Hal Blaine , a drummer who provided the seismic backbeat and cannon-shot snare on thousands of rock songs and scores of midcentury hits — so many that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dubbed him “the most recorded drummer in history” — died March 11. He was 90.
He, along with Benny Goodman and Glenn Miller, performed in the pit band of the new George Gershwin play “Strike Up the Band.” Gene had never learned to read music and “faked” his parts during rehearsals.
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