Junior Cook
Encyclopedia
Herman "Junior" Cook was a hard bop
tenor saxophone
player.
. After playing with Dizzy Gillespie
in 1958, Cook gained some fame for his longtime membership in the Horace Silver
Quintet (1958–1964); when he and Blue Mitchell
left that band, Cook played in Mitchell's quintet (1964–1969). Later associations included Freddie Hubbard
, Elvin Jones
, George Coleman
, Louis Hayes
(1975–1976), Bill Hardman
(1979–1989), and the McCoy Tyner
big band.
In addition to many appearances as a sideman, Junior Cook recorded as a leader for Jazzland (1961), Catalyst (1977), Muse, and SteepleChase.
He also taught at Berklee School of Music for a year during the 1970s.
In the early 1990s Cook was playing with Clifford Jordan
and also leading his own group. He died in his apartment in New York City
.
With Freddie Hubbard
With Blue Mitchell
With others
Hard bop
Hard bop is a style of jazz that is an extension of bebop music. Journalists and record companies began using the term in the mid-1950s to describe a new current within jazz which incorporated influences from rhythm and blues, gospel music, and blues, especially in the saxophone and piano...
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...
player.
Biography
Cook was born in Pensacola, FloridaPensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
. After playing 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...
in 1958, Cook gained some fame for his longtime membership in the Horace Silver
Horace Silver
Horace Silver , born Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva in Norwalk, Connecticut, is an American jazz pianist and composer....
Quintet (1958–1964); when he and Blue Mitchell
Blue Mitchell
Richard Allen Mitchell was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and funk trumpeter, known for many albums recorded as leader and sideman for Riverside, Blue Note and then Mainstream Records.-Biography:...
left that band, Cook played in Mitchell's quintet (1964–1969). Later associations included 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...
, Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
, George Coleman
George Coleman
George Edward Coleman is an American hard bop saxophonist, bandleader, and composer, known chiefly for his work with Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock in the 1960s.-Biography:...
, Louis Hayes
Louis Hayes
Louis Hayes is an American jazz drummer.-Biography:His father played drums and piano and his mother the piano and he refers to the early influence of hearing jazz, especially that of big bands, on the radio...
(1975–1976), Bill Hardman
Bill Hardman
William Franklin Hardman, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist who chiefly played hard bop.-Biography:...
(1979–1989), and the McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
big band.
In addition to many appearances as a sideman, Junior Cook recorded as a leader for Jazzland (1961), Catalyst (1977), Muse, and SteepleChase.
He also taught at Berklee School of Music for a year during the 1970s.
In the early 1990s Cook was playing with Clifford Jordan
Clifford Jordan
Clifford Laconia Jordan was a jazz saxophone player. While in Chicago, he performed with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and some rhythm and blues groups. He moved to New York City in 1957, after which he recorded three albums for Blue Note. He also recorded with Horace Silver, J.J. Johnson, Kenny...
and also leading his own group. He died in his apartment 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...
.
As leader
- Juniors Cookin´ (OJC)
- The Place To Be (Steeplechase; 1988)
- On A Misty Night (Steeplechase, 1989)
- You Leave Me Breathless (Steeplechase,1991)
As sideman
With Horace SilverHorace Silver
Horace Silver , born Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silva in Norwalk, Connecticut, is an American jazz pianist and composer....
- Live At Newport '58Live at Newport '58Live at Newport '58 is a live album by jazz pianist Horace Silver. The album was recorded on July 6, 1958 at the Newport Jazz Festival. Blue Note Records released the album in 2008. It is one of the few officially released live albums with Silver as bandleader.Producer Michael Cuscuna discovered...
(1958) - 6 Pieces of Silver6 Pieces of Silver6 Pieces of Silver is an album by jazz pianist Horace Silver released on the Blue Note label in 1956 featuring performances by Silver with Donald Byrd, Hank Mobley, Doug Watkins, and Louis Hayes...
(1956–58) - Finger Poppin'Finger Poppin'Finger Poppin' with the Horace Silver Quintet is an album by jazz pianist Horace Silver released on the Blue Note label in 1959 featuring performances by Silver with Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook, Gene Taylor, and Louis Hayes....
(1956–58) - Blowin' the Blues AwayBlowin' the Blues AwayBlowin' the Blues Away is an album by jazz pianist Horace Silver, released on the Blue Note label in 1959 featuring performances by Silver with Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook, Gene Taylor, and Louis Hayes....
(1959) - Horace-ScopeHorace-ScopeHorace-Scope is an album by jazz pianist Horace Silver released on the Blue Note label in 1960 featuring performances by Silver with Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook, Gene Taylor, and Roy Brooks....
(1960) - Doin' the ThingDoin' the ThingDoin' the Thing is a live album by jazz pianist Horace Silver released on the Blue Note label in 1961 featuring performances by Silver with Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook, Gene Taylor, and Roy Brooks recorded at the Village Gate in New York City....
(1961) - The Tokyo BluesThe Tokyo BluesThe Tokyo Blues is an album by jazz pianist Horace Silver released on the Blue Note label in 1962, featuring performances by Silver with Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook, Gene Taylor, and John Harris Jr...
(1962) - Silver's SerenadeSilver's SerenadeSilver's Serenade is an album by jazz pianist Horace Silver released on the Blue Note label in 1963 featuring performances by Silver with Blue Mitchell, Junior Cook, Gene Taylor, and Roy Brooks...
(1963) - Song For My FatherSong for My FatherSong for My Father is a 1965 album by The Horace Silver Quintet, released on the Blue Note label in 1965. The album was inspired by a trip that Silver had made to Brazil. The cover artwork features a photograph of Silver's father, John Tavares Silva, to whom the title song was dedicated...
(1964) - Music to Ease Your DiseaseMusic to Ease Your DiseaseThere's No Need to Struggle is an album by jazz pianist Horace Silver, his fifth and final release on the Silverto label, featuring performances by Silver with Clark Terry, Junior Cook, Ray Drummond, and Billy Hart, with vocals by Andy Bey...
(1988)
With 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...
- Sing Me a Song of SongmySing Me a Song of SongmySing Me a Song of Songmy is an album by jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard and Ilhan Mimaroglu released in 1971....
(1971) - Keep Your Soul TogetherKeep Your Soul TogetherKeep Your Soul Together is an album recorded in 1973 by jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. It was his fifth studio album released on Creed Taylor's CTI label and features performances by Hubbard, Junior Cook, George Cables, Aurell Ray, Kent Brinkley, Ron Carter, Ralph Penland and Juno Lewis.-Track...
(1973) - High EnergyHigh Energy (Freddie Hubbard album)High Energy is an album recorded in 1974 by jazz trumpeter Freddie Hubbard. It was first studio album released on the Columbia label and features performances by Hubbard, Joe Sample, George Cables, Junior Cook, Ernie Watts, Pete Christlieb and Ian Underwood.-Track listing:# "Camel Rise" -# "Black...
(1974) - 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)
With Blue Mitchell
Blue Mitchell
Richard Allen Mitchell was an American jazz, rhythm and blues, soul, rock, and funk trumpeter, known for many albums recorded as leader and sideman for Riverside, Blue Note and then Mainstream Records.-Biography:...
- The Cup BearersThe Cup BearersThe Cup Bearers is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1962 and released on the Riverside label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars and stated "The music swings hard, mostly avoids sounding like a Horace Silver group, and has particularly...
(Riverside, 1962) - The Thing to DoThe Thing to Do (album)The Thing to Do is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1964 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 5 stars and stated "The record is prime Blue Note hard bop, containing inventive tunes, meaningful solos, and an...
(Blue Note, 1964) - Down with It!Down with It!Down with It! is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1965 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4 stars and stated "the record is so relaxed that it fails to generate much spark, but each the soloists...
(Blue Note, 1965) - Bring It Home to MeBring It Home to MeBring It Home to Me is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1966 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 4 stars.-Track listing:# "Bring It Home to Me" - 7:58...
(Blue Note, 1966) - Boss HornBoss HornBoss Horn is an album by American trumpeter Blue Mitchell recorded in 1966 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Matt Collar awarded the album 4 stars and stated "Trumpeter Blue Mitchell delivers a solid hard bop date with his 1966 Blue Note release Boss Horn".-Track...
(Blue Note, 1966)
With others
- Kenny BurrellKenny BurrellKenneth Earl "Kenny" Burrell is an American jazz guitarist. His playing is grounded in bebop and blues; he has performed and recorded with a wide range of jazz musicians.-Biography:...
: Blue Lights (Blue Note, 1958) - Dave Bailey Sextet: One Foot In The Gutter (Epic, 1960)
- Barry Harris: Luminiscence (OJC, 1967)
- Cedar WaltonCedar WaltonCedar Anthony Walton, Junior is an American hard bop jazz pianist.-Biography:Walton grew up in Dallas, Texas. His mother was an aspiring concert pianist, and was Walton's initial teacher. She also took him to jazz performances around Dallas...
: Cedar!Cedar!Cedar! is the first studio album for hard bop and jazz pianist bandleader Cedar Walton.-Track listing:#"Turquoise Twice" #"Twilight Waltz" #"My Ship" #"Short Stuff" #"Head and Shoulders"...
(OJC, 1967) - John PattonJohn Patton (musician)John Patton , sometimes nicknamed Big John Patton, was a hard bop and soul jazz organist....
: That Certain FeelingThat Certain Feeling (album)That Certain Feeling is an album by American organist John Patton recorded in 1968 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 3½ stars and stated "there are moments when everything comes together and it just cooks...
(Blue Note, 1968) - Don Patterson: Dem New York Dues (Prestige, 1968–69)
- Clifford JordanClifford JordanClifford Laconia Jordan was a jazz saxophone player. While in Chicago, he performed with Max Roach, Sonny Stitt, and some rhythm and blues groups. He moved to New York City in 1957, after which he recorded three albums for Blue Note. He also recorded with Horace Silver, J.J. Johnson, Kenny...
: Two Tenor Winner (Criss Cross, 1984) - McCoy TynerMcCoy TynerMcCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
: Uptown/DowntownUptown/DowntownUptown/Downtown is a 1988 live album by McCoy Tyner released on the Milestone label, his first for the label since 13th House . It was recorded in November 1988 and features performances by Tyner's Big Band, which included Junior Cook, Ricky Ford, Kamau Adilifu and Steve Turre, recorded at the Blue...
(Milestone, 1988) - THE PLACE TO BE Musiciens : Junior Cook (ts), Mickey Tucker (p), Wayne Dockery (b), Leroy Williams (dr) (23-11-1988)
- Bill Hardman: What’s Up? (Steeplechase, 1989)
- Larry GalesLarry GalesLawrence Bernard "Larry" Gales was an American jazz double-bassist.Gales began playing bass at age 11, and attended the Manhattan School of Music in the late 1950s. In that decade and the beginning of the next he worked with J.C. Heard, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Johnny Griffin, Herbie Mann, Junior...
Sextet: A Message from Monk (Candid, 1990) - Bertha Hope: Elmo’s Fire (Steeplechase, 1991)