Eddie Sauter
Encyclopedia
Edward Ernest Sauter was a composer and jazz arranger who achieved renown among musicians during the swing era.
and the Juilliard School
. He began as a drummer and then played trumpet professionally, most notably with Red Norvo
's orchestra. Eventually he became a full-time arranger for Norvo. He went on to arrange and compose for Artie Shaw
, Tommy Dorsey
, Woody Herman
, and especially Benny Goodman
, earning a reputation for intricate, complex, and carefully crafted works such as "Benny Rides Again," "Moonlight on the Ganges," and "Clarinet a la King".
From 1952 to 1958 Sauter was co-leader of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra
. Between 1957 and 1959 he was Kurt Edelhagen
's successor as leader of the SWF orchestra in Baden-Baden
, Germany. In 1961, he worked with tenor saxophonist Stan Getz
on Focus
, a unique collaboration for which Sauter---at Getz's commission---wrote a suite of string compositions (Roy Haynes
, the jazz drummer, appeared on "I'm Late, I'm Late," the only selection to feature a non-string instrument other than Getz) without primary melodies, the idea being for Getz to improvise them in his customary lyric style.
Sauter and Getz collaborated again during Sauter's work composing the score for the 1965 film Mickey One, which starred Warren Beatty
. His television composing includes the third season theme to Rod Serling
's Night Gallery
. In 2003 he was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
Although Sauter is best known for his jazz music, he also orchestrated a number of Broadway musicals, most notably 1776
, but also including The Apple Tree
and It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman
.
Biography
Sauter studied music at Columbia UniversityColumbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
. He began as a drummer and then played trumpet professionally, most notably with Red Norvo
Red Norvo
Red Norvo was one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba and later the vibraphone as viable jazz instruments...
's orchestra. Eventually he became a full-time arranger for Norvo. He went on to arrange and compose for Artie Shaw
Artie Shaw
Arthur Jacob Arshawsky , better known as Artie Shaw, was an American jazz clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. He was also the author of both fiction and non-fiction writings....
, Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
, Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
, and especially Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, earning a reputation for intricate, complex, and carefully crafted works such as "Benny Rides Again," "Moonlight on the Ganges," and "Clarinet a la King".
From 1952 to 1958 Sauter was co-leader of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra
Sauter-Finegan Orchestra
The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra was an American swing jazz band popular in the 1950s.The orchestra was led by Eddie Sauter and Bill Finegan, who were both experienced big band arrangers. Sauter played mellophone, trumpet, and drums, and had attended Columbia University and Juilliard; Finegan had...
. Between 1957 and 1959 he was Kurt Edelhagen
Kurt Edelhagen
Kurt Edelhagen, born 5 June 1920 in Herne, died 8 February 1982 in Köln, was a major European big band leader throughout the 1950s.After having studied clarinet and piano in Essen, he set up his multicultural big band, which over the years would include many big names in jazz in Europe, including...
's successor as leader of the SWF orchestra in Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden
Baden-Baden is a spa town in Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located on the western foothills of the Black Forest, on the banks of the Oos River, in the region of Karlsruhe...
, Germany. In 1961, he worked with tenor saxophonist Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
on Focus
Focus (jazz album)
Focus is a jazz album recorded in 1961, featuring Stan Getz on tenor saxophone with a string orchestra. The album is a suite which was originally commissioned by Getz from composer and arranger Eddie Sauter...
, a unique collaboration for which Sauter---at Getz's commission---wrote a suite of string compositions (Roy Haynes
Roy Haynes
Roy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz...
, the jazz drummer, appeared on "I'm Late, I'm Late," the only selection to feature a non-string instrument other than Getz) without primary melodies, the idea being for Getz to improvise them in his customary lyric style.
Sauter and Getz collaborated again during Sauter's work composing the score for the 1965 film Mickey One, which starred Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty born March 30, 1937) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter and director. He has received a total of fourteen Academy Award nominations, winning one for Best Director in 1982. He has also won four Golden Globe Awards including the Cecil B. DeMille Award.-Early life and...
. His television composing includes the third season theme to Rod Serling
Rod Serling
Rodman Edward "Rod" Serling was an American screenwriter, novelist, television producer, and narrator best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his science fiction anthology TV series, The Twilight Zone. Serling was active in politics, both on and off the screen and helped form...
's Night Gallery
Night Gallery
Night Gallery is an American anthology series that aired on NBC from 1970 to 1973, featuring stories of horror and the macabre. Rod Serling, who had gained fame from an earlier series, The Twilight Zone, served both as the on-air host of Night Gallery and as a major contributor of scripts, although...
. In 2003 he was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
Although Sauter is best known for his jazz music, he also orchestrated a number of Broadway musicals, most notably 1776
1776 (musical)
1776 is a musical with music and lyrics by Sherman Edwards and a book by Peter Stone. The story is based on the events surrounding the signing of the Declaration of Independence...
, but also including The Apple Tree
The Apple Tree
The Apple Tree is a series of three musical playlets with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and a book by Bock and Harnick with contributions from Jerome Coopersmith...
and It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman
It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman
It's A Bird... It's A Plane... It's Superman is a musical with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, with a book by David Newman and Robert Benton. It is based on the comic book character Superman created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster and published by DC Comics.-Synopsis:The plot...
.
Selected discography
- John CarisiJohn CarisiJohn E. Carisi was an American trumpeter and composer.Carisi was member of Herbie Fields's Orchestra and Glenn Miller's Airforce Band. After the war he worked with Ray McKinley, Claude Thornhill, Charlie Barnet, Urbie Green, and Benny Goodman.He was trained by acclaimed composer Stefan Wolpe...
, Eddie Sauter, Christian WolffChristian Wolff (composer)Christian G. Wolff is an American composer of experimental classical music.-Biography:Wolff was born in Nice in France to German literary publishers Helen and Kurt Wolff, who had published works by Franz Kafka, Robert Musil, and Walter Benjamin. After relocating to the U.S...
, Stefan WolpeStefan WolpeStefan Wolpe was a German-born composer.-Life:Wolpe was born in Berlin. He attended the Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory from the age of fourteen, and the Berlin Hochschule für Musik in 1920-1921. He studied composition under Franz Schreker and was also a pupil of Ferruccio Busoni...
: Counterpoise (hat(now)ART; 2000) - Stan GetzStan GetzStanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
, composed and conducted by Eddie Sauter: FocusFocus (jazz album)Focus is a jazz album recorded in 1961, featuring Stan Getz on tenor saxophone with a string orchestra. The album is a suite which was originally commissioned by Getz from composer and arranger Eddie Sauter...
(Verve 731452141927; original release: 1961) - Stan Getz (Eddie Sauter, composer), Stan Getz Plays Music from the Soundtrack of Mickey One (Verve 731453123229; original release: 1965)
- Benny GoodmanBenny GoodmanBenjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, Benny Goodman Plays Eddie Sauter (Hep, 1997). - Red NorvoRed NorvoRed Norvo was one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba and later the vibraphone as viable jazz instruments...
, Knockin' on Wood (ASV Living Era, 1999). - The Sauter-Finegan OrchestraSauter-Finegan OrchestraThe Sauter-Finegan Orchestra was an American swing jazz band popular in the 1950s.The orchestra was led by Eddie Sauter and Bill Finegan, who were both experienced big band arrangers. Sauter played mellophone, trumpet, and drums, and had attended Columbia University and Juilliard; Finegan had...
, Inside the Sound (1952 recordings; Jasmine, 2007). - The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra, NBC Bandstand Live: 1957 (Collectors' Choice, 1997).
External links
- [ All Music]
- IMDB
- Find-A-Grave