Jazz Artist of the Day: Brian Bromberg

Born December 5, 1960

Another personal hero of mine, the illustrious Mr.Bromberg performs on both upright and electric bass. Some of his trademarks include playing the piccolo bass (a bass guitar tuned up an octave), playing a lot of rock oriented stuff (on the albums Bromberg Plays Hendrix and Metal, for example), and playing a bass guitar in thumb position (normally an upright technique). Bromberg was touring with Stan Getz at age 19, which should tell you a lot about how good he is. Lionel Hampton has called him “The greatest bass player in the world”.

Jazz Artist of the Day: Thad Jones

(March 28, 1923 – August 21, 1986)

Jones, whose brothers Hank and Elvin were also great jazz musicians, joined the Count Basie Orchestra after honing his skills in the U.S. Army band. Thad was often featured as a soloist, and contributed greatly to the group’s repertoire through composing and arranging. In the ‘60’s he struck out on his own, eventually forming a band with drummer Mel Lewis. After moving to Denmark for the early ‘80’s, Jones returned to the states and rejoined the Basie Orchestra, this time as bandleader. Thad Jones was known for his uniquely funky arranging style. 

Jazz Artist of the Day: Chick Corea

Born June 12, 1941

Chick Corea is a hugely influential pianist and composer who helped start the electric jazz fusion movement. One of his first major gigs was with Cab Calloway, and he went on to play with Stan Getz, Al Foster, Miles Davis, and many others. After exploring avante garde free jazz with Miles Davis and his own group, Circle, he got into latin jazz fusion with his band Return to Forever. This group included several other greats, most notably bassist Stanley Clarke and later on guitarist Al Di Meola. After RTF, Corea turned back to more conventional jazz and has recently branched into contemporary classical music, having composed a string quartet. 

Jazz Artist of the Day: John Coltrane

(September 23, 1926 – July 17, 1967)

A true legend, the Trane played with Dizzie Gillespie, Thelonius Monk, Miles Davis, Elvin Jones, Paul Chambers, and countless other giants. In addition to his monster chops, he’s known for his compositional innovations, such as the “Coltrane changes” and his “sheets of sound” technique. Like many jazz greats, Coltrane struggled with drug addiction, but after a 1957 OD he found a new spirituality that helped him kick the worst of his habits. Interesting tidbit-he is canonized as “Saint John William Coltrane” by the African Orthodox Church, which is an offshoot of the Anglican church.

Jazz Artist of the Day: Juan Tizol

(22 January 1900 – 23 April 1984) 

Puerto Rican trombonist and composer. He had a long tenure in Duke Ellington’s band (he got Charles Mingus fired after they came to blows). Tizol also played occasionally with the Harry James band throughout his career, as well as Nat King Cole. He did not often improvise, but he was an excellent section player and he would occasionally play written out solos on his signature instrument, the valve trombone. He composed the jazz standards “Caravan” and “Perdido”.

Jazz Artist of the Day: Lionel Hampton 

(April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002)

One of the first jazz Vibraphone players.Throughout his long career, he played with such greats as Benny Goodman (in one of the first racially integrated groups to become popular), Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Charlie Parker, Charlie Mingus, and Louis Armstrong. The University of Idaho’s School of Music is named after him, and Hampton is the first jazz artist to be so honored by a university. Hampton was also active in politics and philanthropy; over the years he was a delegate to multiple Republican National Conventions. He was honored with a papal medal from Pope Paul VI,  Isreal’s Statehood Award, and numerous honorary doctorates.