Benny Bailey
Encyclopedia
Benny Bailey, born Ernest Harold Bailey (13 August 1925 in Cleveland
, Ohio
– 14 April 2005 in Amsterdam
), was an American bebop
and hard-bop jazz
trumpeter.
and flute
in his youth, but switched to trumpet
, and concentrated on the instrument while at the Cleveland Institute of Music
. In the early 1940s he worked with Bull Moose Jackson
and Scatman Crothers
. He later worked with Dizzy Gillespie
and toured with Lionel Hampton
. During a European tour with Hampton he decided to stay in Europe and spend time in Sweden. This Swedish period saw him working with Harry Arnold
's big band. He tended to prefer big bands over small groups and became associated with several big bands in Europe including The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band
. Later he began to work with Quincy Jones
and that led to a brief return to the United States
in 1960. After that he migrated to Germany, and later the Netherlands.
In 1969 he played on Eddie Harris
and Les McCann
's album Swiss Movement
which was recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival
, even though it was not normally his style of music. Then in 1988 he worked with Tony Coe
and he kept producing albums until 2000 when he was in his mid-70s.
Bailey died at home in Amsterdam on April 14, 2005.
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
– 14 April 2005 in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
), was an American bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
and hard-bop jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
trumpeter.
Biography
Bailey had some training in pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
in his youth, but switched to trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, and concentrated on the instrument while at the Cleveland Institute of Music
Cleveland Institute of Music
The Cleveland Institute of Music is an independent music conservatory located in the University Circle district of Cleveland, Ohio, United States and is overseen by president Joel Smirnoff and Adrian Daly, dean....
. In the early 1940s he worked with Bull Moose Jackson
Bull Moose Jackson
Benjamin Clarence "Bull Moose" Jackson was an American blues and rhythm and blues singer and saxophonist, who was most successful in the late 1940s.-Career:...
and Scatman Crothers
Scatman Crothers
Benjamin Sherman "Scatman" Crothers was an American actor, singer, dancer and musician known for his work as Louie the Garbage Man on the TV show Chico and the Man, and as Dick Hallorann in The Shining in 1980...
. He later worked with Dizzy Gillespie
Dizzy Gillespie
John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
and toured with Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
. During a European tour with Hampton he decided to stay in Europe and spend time in Sweden. This Swedish period saw him working with Harry Arnold
Harry Arnold
Harry Arnold was a Swedish jazz saxophonist and bandleader.Arnold led his first big band in 1942, playing saxophone initially but eventually ceasing performance work primarily as an arranger...
's big band. He tended to prefer big bands over small groups and became associated with several big bands in Europe including The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band
The Kenny Clarke-Francy Boland Big Band
The Kenny Clarke–Francy Boland Big Band was one of the most noteworthy jazz big bands formed outside the United States.It was formed in 1961, when, with the help of producer Gigi Campi, the US drummer Kenny Clarke and Belgian pianist and composer Francy Boland and ex-Ellington bassist Jimmy Woode...
. Later he began to work with Quincy Jones
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delightt Jones, Jr. is an American record producer and musician. A conductor, musical arranger, film composer, television producer, and trumpeter. His career spans five decades in the entertainment industry and a record 79 Grammy Award nominations, 27 Grammys, including a Grammy Legend...
and that led to a brief return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1960. After that he migrated to Germany, and later the Netherlands.
In 1969 he played on Eddie Harris
Eddie Harris
Eddie Harris was an American jazz musician, best known for playing tenor saxophone and for introducing the electrically amplified saxophone. He was also fluent on the electric piano and organ...
and Les McCann
Les McCann
Les McCann is an American soul jazz piano player and vocalist whose biggest successes came as a crossover artist into R&B and soul.-Biography:...
's album Swiss Movement
Swiss Movement
Swiss Movement is a live jazz album recorded on June 21, 1969 at The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland by the Les McCann trio, Eddie Harris, and Benny Bailey.The song "Compared to What" became a pop music hit.-Track listing:...
which was recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival
Montreux Jazz Festival
The Montreux Jazz Festival is the best-known music festival in Switzerland and one of the most prestigious in Europe; it is held annually in early July in Montreux on the shores of Lake Geneva...
, even though it was not normally his style of music. Then in 1988 he worked with Tony Coe
Tony Coe
Anthony George Coe is a composer and jazz musician who plays clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor saxophone.Coe began his performing career playing with Humphrey Lyttelton's band from 1957 to 1962...
and he kept producing albums until 2000 when he was in his mid-70s.
Bailey died at home in Amsterdam on April 14, 2005.
Discography
- Bennie Bailey Plays (ArgoArgo RecordsArgo Records was started in December of 1955 to accommodate some of the rapidly growing recording activity at Chess Records. Originally the label was called Marterry, but bandleader Ralph Marterie objected, and within a couple of months the imprint was renamed Argo.Initially, Argo offered a...
1959) - Big Brass (CandidCandid RecordsCandid Records was founded as a subsidiary of Archie Bleyer's Cadence label in New York City in 1960. The jazz writer and civil rights activist, Nat Hentoff, worked as the label's A&R director, aiming to create a representative catalog of the jazz of the day...
1960) - Stockholm Sojourn (ConcordConcord RecordsConcord Records is a U.S. record label now based in Beverly Hills, California. Originally known as Concord Jazz, it was established in 1972 as an off-shoot of the Concord Jazz Festival in Concord, California by festival founder Carl Jefferson, a local automobile dealer and jazz fan who sold his...
1964) - Soul Eyes - (MPSMPS RecordsMPS Records was a German jazz record label founded in 1968. MPS stands for "Musik Produktion Schwarzwald" .-History:...
1968) - Folklore In Swing (MPSMPS RecordsMPS Records was a German jazz record label founded in 1968. MPS stands for "Musik Produktion Schwarzwald" .-History:...
1966) - The Balkan In My Soul(MPSMPS RecordsMPS Records was a German jazz record label founded in 1968. MPS stands for "Musik Produktion Schwarzwald" .-History:...
1968) - Soul Eyes: Jazz Live at the Domicile Munich (MPSMPS RecordsMPS Records was a German jazz record label founded in 1968. MPS stands for "Musik Produktion Schwarzwald" .-History:...
1968) - Mirrors (The Amazing Benny Bailey) (arranged & conducted by Francy BolandFrancy BolandFrançois Boland was a classically trained Belgian jazz composer and pianist.He first gained notice in 1949 and worked with Belgian jazz greats like Bobby Jaspar, and in 1955 he joined Chet Baker's quintet...
(FreedomFreedom RecordsFreedom Records was a jazz record label linked with the producer Alan Bates, as with his Black Lion Records.Individual recordings were distributed via Polydor Records and Transatlantic Records during the early 1970s before the company was bought by Arista Records.-Discography:*1000 Albert Ayler &...
1971) - Islands (EnjaEnja RecordsEnja Records is a German jazz record label based in Munich, Germany. It was founded by jazz enthusiasts Matthias Winckelmann and Horst Weber in 1971....
1976) - Serenade to a Planet (Ego 1976)
- East of Isar (Ego 1978) - The Sal NisticoSal NisticoSal Nistico, born Salvatore Nistico 2 April 1938 in Syracuse , died 3 March 1991 in Berne, Switzerland, was a jazz tenor saxophonist....
-Benny Bailey Quintet - Grand Slam (Jazzcraft 1978)
- While My Lady Sleeps (Gemini 1990)
- No Refill (TCB Records1994)
- Angel Eyes (Laika 1995)
- Peruvian Nights (TCB 1996)
- I Thought About You (Laika 1996)
- The Satchmo Legacy (Enja 2000)
- The Rainbow People (Steeplechase 2002)
External links
- BBC Radio 2
- [ All Music]