Chris Columbus (musician)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Morris Christopher "Chris" Columbus (b. June 17, 1902, Greenville, North Carolina
; died August 20, 2002 in New Jersey) was an American jazz
drummer. He was sometimes credited as Joe Morris on record, though he is no relation to Joe Morris
the free jazz
guitarist or Joe Morris
the trumpeter.
Columbus was active as a jazz musician from the 1920s into the 1970s, and was the father of Sonny Payne
. He led his own band from the 1930s into the late 1940s, holding a residency at the Savoy Ballroom
for a period. After the middle of the 1940s he drummed behind Louis Jordan
, remaining with him until 1952. In the early 1960s, Columbus backed Wild Bill Davis
's organ combo, and he recorded with Duke Ellington
in 1967. He worked again as a leader in the 1970s, in addition to doing tours of Europe with Davis. While in France he played with Al Grey
, Milt Buckner
, and Floyd Smith
.
Greenville, North Carolina
Greenville is the county seat of Pitt County and principal city of the Greenville, North Carolina metropolitan area. Greenville is the health, entertainment, and educational hub of North Carolina's Tidewater and Coastal Plain and in 2008 was listed as the Tenth Largest City in North Carolina...
; died August 20, 2002 in New Jersey) was an American 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...
drummer. He was sometimes credited as Joe Morris on record, though he is no relation to Joe Morris
Joe Morris (guitarist)
Joe Morris is an American jazz guitarist. In addition to leading his own groups, he has recorded with William Parker, Whit Dickey, Rob Brown, Joe Maneri and others...
the free jazz
Free jazz
Free jazz is an approach to jazz music that was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s. Though the music produced by free jazz pioneers varied widely, the common feature was a dissatisfaction with the limitations of bebop, hard bop, and modal jazz, which had developed in the 1940s and 1950s...
guitarist or Joe Morris
Joe Morris (trumpeter)
Joe Morris was an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter and bandleader.Born in Montgomery, Alabama, United States, Morris began his career as a jazz trumpeter, working and recording with Earl Bostic, Milt Buckner, Arnett Cobb, Dizzy Gillespie, Johnny Griffin, Buddy Rich, Dinah Washington,...
the trumpeter.
Columbus was active as a jazz musician from the 1920s into the 1970s, and was the father of Sonny Payne
Sonny Payne
Sonny Payne was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with Count Basie and Harry James.His father was Wild Bill Davis's drummer Chris Columbus...
. He led his own band from the 1930s into the late 1940s, holding a residency at the Savoy Ballroom
Savoy Ballroom
The Savoy Ballroom, located in Harlem, New York City, was a medium sized ballroom for music and public dancing that was in operation from March 12, 1926 to July 10, 1958. It was located between 140th and 141st Streets on Lenox Avenue....
for a period. After the middle of the 1940s he drummed behind Louis Jordan
Louis Jordan
Louis Thomas Jordan was a pioneering American jazz, blues and rhythm & blues musician, songwriter and bandleader who enjoyed his greatest popularity from the late 1930s to the early 1950s. Known as "The King of the Jukebox", Jordan was highly popular with both black and white audiences in the...
, remaining with him until 1952. In the early 1960s, Columbus backed Wild Bill Davis
Wild Bill Davis
Wild Bill Davis was the stage name of American jazz pianist, organist, and arranger William Strethen Davis.Davis was born in Glasgow, Missouri...
's organ combo, and he recorded with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
in 1967. He worked again as a leader in the 1970s, in addition to doing tours of Europe with Davis. While in France he played with Al Grey
Al Grey
Al Grey was a jazz trombonist who is most remembered for his association with the Count Basie orchestra....
, Milt Buckner
Milt Buckner
Milt Buckner was an American jazz pianist and organist, originally from St. Louis, Missouri. He was orphaned as a child, but an uncle in Detroit taught him to play...
, and Floyd Smith
Floyd Smith (musician)
Floyd Smith was an American jazz guitarist.Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Smith studied music theory as a teenager and leared ukelele as a child before taking up guitar...
.