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Born in Davenport, IA, in 1903, composer and cornet player Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke became one of the first white jazz musicians admired by both white and black performers. |
Aside from a few piano lessons as a boy, he was entirely self-taught, developing his unorthodox cornet technique and bell-like tone from playing along with records.
His family disapproved of jazz music, and tried in vain to keep him away from its influence. They sent him to Lake Forest Academy in 1921, but it's proximity to the Jazz Mecca of Chicago allowed Beiderbecke to hear the latest sounds at the expense of his school career. He was eventually expelled and, after a few years working for his father, he moved to Chicago where he improved his music reading skills and broadened his musical experience.
Much of his early development took place in the band called the Wolverines, with which he played and recorded in 1924. That same year he worked and recorded with Frankie Trumbauer and with Jean Goldkette's dance band.
In 1925, Beiderbecke joined Trumbauer's St. Louis-based band. In 1926, both Trumbauer and he joined Goldkette's group in New York, working with it until it's demise in 1927. Afterwards, he join Paul Whiteman's band with which he made a number of influential recordings, concurrently recording with bands under his own name.
Bix Beiderbecke was an alcoholic and in the late 1920's his rapidly deteriorating health began to take its toll on his professional life. He left Whiteman's band in 1929 with hopes of returning after recovering his health, but it was not to be. He worked with some important bands in New York-Benny Goodman's, the Dorsey Brothers', and the Casa Loma Orchestra-and as a part of a radio series until his death in 1930.
Beiderbecke was largely unknown to the public at the time of his death. However, many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, admired his original, unorthodox, and beautiful style. A number of his compositions, including "In a Mist," and "In the Dark" have endured; and, he has been an influence on Red Nichols, Bunny Berigan, and many others since his death.
Set List for Bix Beiderbecke on Piano JazzJazz Me Blues (T. Delaney)
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans (E. Schoenberg)
Davenport Blues (B. Beiderbecke)
In a Mist (B. Beiderbecke)
Louisiana (Johnson and Razaf)
Portrait of Bix (M. McPartland)
Singing the Blues (M. Ensley)
Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society Web site
Richard Sudhalter
His family disapproved of jazz music, and tried in vain to keep him away from its influence. They sent him to Lake Forest Academy in 1921, but it's proximity to the Jazz Mecca of Chicago allowed Beiderbecke to hear the latest sounds at the expense of his school career. He was eventually expelled and, after a few years working for his father, he moved to Chicago where he improved his music reading skills and broadened his musical experience.
Much of his early development took place in the band called the Wolverines, with which he played and recorded in 1924. That same year he worked and recorded with Frankie Trumbauer and with Jean Goldkette's dance band.
In 1925, Beiderbecke joined Trumbauer's St. Louis-based band. In 1926, both Trumbauer and he joined Goldkette's group in New York, working with it until it's demise in 1927. Afterwards, he join Paul Whiteman's band with which he made a number of influential recordings, concurrently recording with bands under his own name.
Bix Beiderbecke was an alcoholic and in the late 1920's his rapidly deteriorating health began to take its toll on his professional life. He left Whiteman's band in 1929 with hopes of returning after recovering his health, but it was not to be. He worked with some important bands in New York-Benny Goodman's, the Dorsey Brothers', and the Casa Loma Orchestra-and as a part of a radio series until his death in 1930.
Beiderbecke was largely unknown to the public at the time of his death. However, many jazz musicians, including Louis Armstrong, admired his original, unorthodox, and beautiful style. A number of his compositions, including "In a Mist," and "In the Dark" have endured; and, he has been an influence on Red Nichols, Bunny Berigan, and many others since his death.
Set List for Bix Beiderbecke on Piano Jazz
Related Links
Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Society Web site
Richard Sudhalter
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Richard Merrill Sudhalter was born December 28, 1928 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Sudhalter played as an amateur while engaged in a career in journalism. |
Playing cornet in various parts of the USA and UK, he established a quiet reputation mostly among musicians. As he expanded his career in music, Sudhalter's virtues as a player and a tireless organizer became more widely apparent.
Sudhalter was involved in the creation of the New Paul Whiteman Orchestra and also worked with Bobby Hackett, Keith Nichols, the New York Jazz Repertory Company and others in recreations of early jazz, in particular the music of Bix Beiderbecke.
His interest in Bix led him to write the Bix: Man And Legend, and his other writings on jazz have appeared in the New York Post. Sudhalter's technical proficiency and love of this musical genre make him the perfect guest to explore the music of Bix Biederbeke on Piano Jazz.
Sudhalter was involved in the creation of the New Paul Whiteman Orchestra and also worked with Bobby Hackett, Keith Nichols, the New York Jazz Repertory Company and others in recreations of early jazz, in particular the music of Bix Beiderbecke.
His interest in Bix led him to write the Bix: Man And Legend, and his other writings on jazz have appeared in the New York Post. Sudhalter's technical proficiency and love of this musical genre make him the perfect guest to explore the music of Bix Biederbeke on Piano Jazz.