Harry Lookofsky
Encyclopedia
Harry Lookofsky was an American jazz
violin
ist. He is also the father of keyboardist-songwriter Michael Brown
, a member of The Left Banke
.
in 1913 and studied classical violin
in St. Louis
where he joined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
in the mid 1930s. An early admirer of Joe Venuti, Lookofsky eventually became recognized as one of the earliest accomplished bebop
jazz violinists. His technique became particularly recognized on his album Stringsville (1958, Atlantic). Lookofsky was one of many early jazz violinists who occasionally played tenor violin
, an instrument he cited for its similar tonal qualities to the tenor saxophone
. Another relatively unknown unique characteristic about Lookofsky's playing is that the bebop solos on Stringsville were completely written out and arranged as opposed to improvised as most jazz musicians do. An accomplished studio musician, Lookofsky also experimented heavily with multitrack recording
in order to produce a unique sound with several overlaid violin tracks meant to imitate the sound of a horn section in a big band
orchestra.
Following his departure from St. Louis in 1938, Lookofsky joined the NBC Symphony Orchestra
under Arturo Toscanini
for a time while continuing to play jazz on the side. He continued his career as a classical symphony violinist later as concertmaster at ABC
following Toscanini's retirement in 1954.
Stringsville was Lookofsky's one major feature release. Aside from his classical and studio recording work, he was more often a contributing artist and/or arranger on other's albums. Over the years, his many jazz collaborators included Quincy Jones
, Jaco Pastorius
, Sarah Vaughn, George Benson
, and Freddie Hubbard
.
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...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist. He is also the father of keyboardist-songwriter Michael Brown
Michael Brown (rock musician)
Michael Brown , is an American keyboardist-songwriter. The son of violinist and arranger Harry Lookofsky, he is best known as the principal songwriter for the 1960s baroque-pop outfit The Left Banke and for writing their two hits "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina".After internal band...
, a member of The Left Banke
The Left Banke
The Left Banke is an American baroque pop band that formed in New York City in 1965 and disbanded in 1969. They are best remembered for their two U.S. hit singles, "Walk Away Renée" and "Pretty Ballerina"...
.
History
Harry Lookofsky was born in Paducah, KentuckyPaducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
in 1913 and studied classical violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
where he joined the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra
The Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the SLSO is the second-oldest symphony orchestra in the United States as it is preceded by the New York Philharmonic.-History:The St...
in the mid 1930s. An early admirer of Joe Venuti, Lookofsky eventually became recognized as one of the earliest accomplished 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...
jazz violinists. His technique became particularly recognized on his album Stringsville (1958, Atlantic). Lookofsky was one of many early jazz violinists who occasionally played tenor violin
Tenor violin
A tenor violin is an instrument with a range between those of the cello and the viola. An earlier development of the evolution of the violin family of instruments, the instrument is not standard in the modern symphony orchestra...
, an instrument he cited for its similar tonal qualities to the tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
. Another relatively unknown unique characteristic about Lookofsky's playing is that the bebop solos on Stringsville were completely written out and arranged as opposed to improvised as most jazz musicians do. An accomplished studio musician, Lookofsky also experimented heavily with multitrack recording
Multitrack recording
Multitrack recording is a method of sound recording that allows for the separate recording of multiple sound sources to create a cohesive whole...
in order to produce a unique sound with several overlaid violin tracks meant to imitate the sound of a horn section in a big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
orchestra.
Following his departure from St. Louis in 1938, Lookofsky joined the NBC Symphony Orchestra
NBC Symphony Orchestra
The NBC Symphony Orchestra was a radio orchestra established by David Sarnoff of the National Broadcasting Company especially for conductor Arturo Toscanini...
under Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini
Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor. One of the most acclaimed musicians of the late 19th and 20th century, he was renowned for his intensity, his perfectionism, his ear for orchestral detail and sonority, and his photographic memory...
for a time while continuing to play jazz on the side. He continued his career as a classical symphony violinist later as concertmaster at ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
following Toscanini's retirement in 1954.
Stringsville was Lookofsky's one major feature release. Aside from his classical and studio recording work, he was more often a contributing artist and/or arranger on other's albums. Over the years, his many jazz collaborators included 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...
, Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
, Sarah Vaughn, George Benson
George Benson
George Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
, and Freddie Hubbard
Freddie Hubbard
Frederick Dewayne "Freddie" Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles from the early 1960s and on...
.
Selected discography
- Stringsville (1958, Atlantic)
- Together!/Miracle in Strings (1994 reissue, Columbia). Together! is an album by Herb EllisHerb EllisMitchell Herbert "Herb" Ellis was an American jazz guitarist. Perhaps best known for his 1950s membership in the trio of pianist Oscar Peterson, Ellis was also a staple of west-coast studio recording sessions, and was described by critic Scott Yanow as "an excellent bop-based guitarist with a...
and Stuff SmithStuff SmithHezekiah Leroy Gordon Smith , better known as Stuff Smith, was a jazz violinist. He is known well for the song "If You're a Viper".-Biography:...
Selected albums appeared on
- Blues Shout (1960, Atlantic - Leo WrightLeo WrightLeo Wright was an American jazz musician who played alto saxophone, flute and clarinet...
) - The Song Is ParisThe Song Is ParisThe Song Is Paris is an album by American jazz vocalist and guitarist Jackie Paris recorded in 1962 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Jason Ankeny awarded the album 4 stars stating "Because he was never a showy or self-indulgent vocalist, Paris never received the acclaim he...
(1962, Impulse! - Jackie ParisJackie ParisJackie Paris was an American jazz singer and guitarist.He was born Carlo Jackie Paris in Nutley, New Jersey to his father Carlo, and mother Rose. He had a brother Gene. A vocalist, Paris toured with Charlie Parker. He also tap-danced from his youth and into his years in the US Army, entertaining...
) - The Body & the SoulThe Body & the SoulThe Body & the Soul is the an album by trumpeter Freddie Hubbard recorded in 1963 as his second release on the Impulse! label. It features performances by Hubbard with an orchestra and string section, and with a septet featuring Curtis Fuller, Eric Dolphy, Wayne Shorter, Cedar Walton, Reggie...
(1963, Impulse! - Freddie HubbardFreddie HubbardFrederick Dewayne "Freddie" Hubbard was an American jazz trumpeter. He was known primarily for playing in the bebop, hard bop and post bop styles from the early 1960s and on...
) - The Individualism of Gil EvansThe Individualism of Gil EvansThe Individualism of Gil Evans is an album by pianist, conductor, arranger and composer Gil Evans originally released on the Verve label in 1964. It features Evans' big band arrangements of five original compositions and compositions by Kurt Weill, Bob Dorough, John Lewis and Willie Dixon...
(1964, Verve - Gil EvansGil EvansGil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
) - Who Can I Turn To (1964, Sony Music - Tony BennettTony BennettTony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
) - Sarah Vaughn Sings the Mancini Songbook (1965, Verve - Sarah VaughanSarah VaughanSarah Lois Vaughan was an American jazz singer, described by Scott Yanow as having "one of the most wondrous voices of the 20th century."...
) - Child Is Father to the ManChild Is Father to the ManChild Is Father to the Man is the debut album by Blood, Sweat & Tears, released in February of 1968. It reached number 47 on Billboard's Pop Albums chart.-History:...
(1968, Columbia - Blood, Sweat & TearsBlood, Sweat & TearsBlood, Sweat & Tears is an American music group, originally formed in 1967 in New York City. Since its beginnings in 1967, the band has gone through numerous iterations with varying personnel and has encompassed a multitude of musical styles...
) - MarlenaMarlena (Marlena Shaw album)Marlena is an album by American vocalist Marlena Shaw recorded in 1972 and released on the Blue Note label. The album was Shaw's third release and her first for the Blue Note label.-Track listing:...
(1972, Blue Note - Marlena ShawMarlena ShawMarlena Shaw is an American singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and is still singing today. Her music has often been sampled in hip hop music, and used in television commercials.-Biography:She was first introduced to music by her uncle Jimmy Burgess, a jazz trumpet player...
) - Sophisticated LouSophisticated LouSophisticated Lou is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label featuring Donaldson with Joe Farrell, Paul Winter, Joe Venuto, Derek Smith, Jay Berliner, Richard Davis, Ron Carter, Grady Tate, and Omar Clay with a string section arranged by Wade Marcus.The album was...
(1973, Blue Note - Lou DonaldsonLou DonaldsonLou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were...
) - Polar ACPolar ACPolar AC is an album recorded in 1974 by jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. It was his sixth and final studio album released on Creed Taylor's CTI label and features performances by Hubbard, Hubert Laws, George Benson, Junior Cook, and Ron Carter....
(1974, CTI - Freddie Hubbard) - WindjammerWindjammer (album)Windjammer is an album recorded in 1976 by jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. It was released on the Columbia label and features performances by Hubbard, Jon Faddis, Michael Brecker, Bob James, George Cables Steve Khan and Eric Gale...
(1977, Columbia - Freddie Hubbard) - In Your Eyes (1978, Collectables - George BensonGeorge BensonGeorge Benson is a ten Grammy Award winning American musician, whose production career began at the age of twenty-one as a jazz guitarist....
) - Standards (1998, Rhino - Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
)