Captain John Handy
Encyclopedia
Captain John Handy was an American jazz
alto saxophonist. Handy's style was rooted in New Orleans Jazz
but also incorporated elements of R&B.
Handy was born in Pass Christian, Mississippi
. He played clarinet in New Orleans bands from the 1920s, including in his own Louisiana Shakers. He switched to alto saxophone in 1928, and was little-known outside of Louisiana
until the 1960s, when he began playing frequently with Kid Sheik Cola and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
and recorded for GHB Records, RCA
, and Jazz Crusade.
He is well known for playing in the December Band alongside Kid Thomas Valentine
, Big Jim Robinson, Sammy Rimington
, Bill Sinclair, Dick Griffith, "Mouldy" Dick Mccarthy and Sammy Pen. His solo on "Ice Cream" is well known in New Orleans Jazz
. Another one of his cuts that is often reproduced is "Cap's Blues". This is one of the most raw blues solos ever played on the saxophone. He was one of the most versatile saxophone players to play Jazz. Scott Yanow
called him "one of the top New Orleans musicians of the 1960s." He died in New York City
.
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...
alto saxophonist. Handy's style was rooted in New Orleans Jazz
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
but also incorporated elements of R&B.
Handy was born in Pass Christian, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. He played clarinet in New Orleans bands from the 1920s, including in his own Louisiana Shakers. He switched to alto saxophone in 1928, and was little-known outside of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
until the 1960s, when he began playing frequently with Kid Sheik Cola and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Preservation Hall Jazz Band is the name for numerous groups of Dixieland Jazz and traditional jazz bands at Preservation Hall in New Orleans, Louisiana, and on tours as organized by the Preservation Hall...
and recorded for GHB Records, RCA
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
, and Jazz Crusade.
He is well known for playing in the December Band alongside Kid Thomas Valentine
Kid Thomas Valentine
Thomas Valentine, commonly known as Kid Thomas was a jazz trumpeter and bandleader.Kid Thomas was born in Reserve, Louisiana and came to New Orleans in his youth. He gained a reputation as a hot trumpet man in the early 1920s. Starting in 1926 he led his own band, for decades based in the New...
, Big Jim Robinson, Sammy Rimington
Sammy Rimington
Samuel 'Sammy' Rimington , is an English jazz reed player. He has been an active New Orleans jazz revivalist since the late 1950s....
, Bill Sinclair, Dick Griffith, "Mouldy" Dick Mccarthy and Sammy Pen. His solo on "Ice Cream" is well known in New Orleans Jazz
Dixieland
Dixieland music, sometimes referred to as Hot jazz, Early Jazz or New Orleans jazz, is a style of jazz music which developed in New Orleans at the start of the 20th century, and was spread to Chicago and New York City by New Orleans bands in the 1910s.Well-known jazz standard songs from the...
. Another one of his cuts that is often reproduced is "Cap's Blues". This is one of the most raw blues solos ever played on the saxophone. He was one of the most versatile saxophone players to play Jazz. Scott Yanow
Scott Yanow
Scott Yanow is an American jazz commentator, known for many contributions to the Allmusic website, for writing ten books on jazz and for reviewing jazz recordings for over 30 years.-Biography:...
called him "one of the top New Orleans musicians of the 1960s." He died in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.