Manny Albam
Encyclopedia
Manny Albam was a jazz baritone saxophone
player who eventually put the instrument down in favour of a long and respected career as an arranger, writer, and teacher.
when his mother went into labour en route the United States, Albam grew up in New York City
. He became interested in jazz on hearing Bix Beiderbecke
and at sixteen dropped out of school to play for Dixieland
trumpeter-leader Muggsy Spanier
, but it was his membership in a group led by Georgie Auld
that turned Albam's career around.
The Auld group included saxophonist Budd Johnson
, then a primary arranger for the group, and Johnson mentored Albam as an arranger. By 1950, Albam had put down his baritone sax and began to concentrate strictly on arranging, writing, and leading. Within a few years, he became known for a bebop
-oriented style that emphasised taut and witty writing with a flair for distinctive shadings. (Flute-led reed sections became something of an Albam trademark.)
He became known for his work for forward-looking bandleaders Charlie Barnet
and Charlie Spivak
, before moving forward to collaborate with jazzmen as varied as Count Basie
, Stan Getz
, Bob Brookmeyer
(who frequently appeared on Albam's own albums as a leader), Coleman Hawkins
(particularly the tenor saxophone pioneer's late-life but spry recording of "I Love Paris"), Dizzy Gillespie
, Freddie Hubbard
, Hank Jones
, Mel Lewis
, Art Farmer
, Urbie Green
, and Milt Hinton
, among others, on their recordings and on his own recordings as a leader for several labels.
Albam also found an entree into the classical music
world when he arranged Leonard Bernstein
's score for West Side Story in 1957---Bernstein was said to have been so impressed that he invited Albam to write for the New York Philharmonic
itself, an invitation, according to allmusic.com, that led Albam to study classical music for a time and, in due course, write such works as Concerto for Trombone and Strings.
By 1964, Albam became musical director for the Solid State Records (jazz label)
; his jazz suite The Soul of the City was released on that label two years later. Following that, Albam turned increasingly to teaching, a pursuit he continued until his death of cancer in 2001.
He also did the score for a few films and television programs; a song of his was included in Waking the Dead
.
Among the Albam recordings that remain available for listeners today are The Blues is Everybody's Business, The Drum Suite, The Jazz Workshop, Jazz New York, and Something New, Something Blue.
With the encouragement of close friend Rayburn Wright, Albam started teaching summer workshops at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York in 1964. He later joined the faculties of Glassboro State College in New Jersey and the Manhattan School of Music
in New York. In 1988, he was helped establish the BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop to foster young composers and arrangers, he eventually took over as director from Bob Brookmeyer
. He has as long list of former students throughout the music industry and in higher education.
Baritone saxophone
The baritone saxophone, often called "bari sax" , is one of the largest and lowest pitched members of the saxophone family. It was invented by Adolphe Sax. The baritone is distinguished from smaller sizes of saxophone by the extra loop near its mouthpiece...
player who eventually put the instrument down in favour of a long and respected career as an arranger, writer, and teacher.
Biography
The son of Lithuanian immigrants, who was born in the Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
The Dominican Republic is a nation on the island of La Hispaniola, part of the Greater Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean region. The western third of the island is occupied by the nation of Haiti, making Hispaniola one of two Caribbean islands that are shared by two countries...
when his mother went into labour en route the United States, Albam grew up 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...
. He became interested in jazz on hearing Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was an American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer.With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s...
and at sixteen dropped out of school to play for Dixieland
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...
trumpeter-leader Muggsy Spanier
Muggsy Spanier
Francis Joseph Julian "Muggsy" Spanier was a prominent cornet player based in Chicago. He was renowned as the best trumpet/cornet in Chicago until Bix Beiderbecke entered the scene....
, but it was his membership in a group led by Georgie Auld
Georgie Auld
Georgie Auld was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist and bandleader.Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto...
that turned Albam's career around.
The Auld group included saxophonist Budd Johnson
Budd Johnson
Not to be confused with Buddy Johnson.Budd Johnson was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist who worked extensively with Ben Webster, Benny Goodman, Big Joe Turner, Coleman Hawkins, Dizzy Gillespie, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday and Earl Hines, among others.-Biography:He initially played...
, then a primary arranger for the group, and Johnson mentored Albam as an arranger. By 1950, Albam had put down his baritone sax and began to concentrate strictly on arranging, writing, and leading. Within a few years, he became known for a 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...
-oriented style that emphasised taut and witty writing with a flair for distinctive shadings. (Flute-led reed sections became something of an Albam trademark.)
He became known for his work for forward-looking bandleaders Charlie Barnet
Charlie Barnet
Charles Daly Barnet was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader.His major recordings were "Skyliner", "Cherokee", "The Wrong Idea", "Scotch and Soda", "In a Mizz", and "Southland Shuffle".-Early life:...
and Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak was an American trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s.-Biography:...
, before moving forward to collaborate with jazzmen as varied as Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
, 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...
, Bob Brookmeyer
Bob Brookmeyer
Robert Brookmeyer is an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer.-Biography:Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of Gerry Mulligan's quartet from 1954 to 1957. He later worked with Jimmy Giuffre...
(who frequently appeared on Albam's own albums as a leader), Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Hawkins
Coleman Randolph Hawkins was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. Hawkins was one of the first prominent jazz musicians on his instrument. As Joachim E. Berendt explained, "there were some tenor players before him, but the instrument was not an acknowledged jazz horn"...
(particularly the tenor saxophone pioneer's late-life but spry recording of "I Love Paris"), 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...
, 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...
, Hank Jones
Hank Jones
Henry "Hank" Jones was an American jazz pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer. Critics and musicians described Jones as eloquent, lyrical, and impeccable. In 1989, The National Endowment for the Arts honored him with the NEA Jazz Masters Award...
, Mel Lewis
Mel Lewis
Mel Lewis was an American drummer, jazz musician and band leader. He was born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, New York to Russian immigrant parents....
, Art Farmer
Art Farmer
Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet/flugelhorn combination designed for him by David Monette. His identical twin brother, Addison Farmer Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa –...
, Urbie Green
Urbie Green
Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green is an American jazz trombonist who toured with Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Jan Savitt, and Frankie Carle....
, and Milt Hinton
Milt Hinton
Milton John "Milt" Hinton , "the dean of jazz bass players," was an American jazz double bassist and photographer. He was nicknamed "The Judge".-Biography:...
, among others, on their recordings and on his own recordings as a leader for several labels.
Albam also found an entree into the classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
world when he arranged Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
's score for West Side Story in 1957---Bernstein was said to have been so impressed that he invited Albam to write for the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
itself, an invitation, according to allmusic.com, that led Albam to study classical music for a time and, in due course, write such works as Concerto for Trombone and Strings.
By 1964, Albam became musical director for the Solid State Records (jazz label)
Solid State Records (jazz label)
Solid State Records was a jazz record label formed in 1966 by noted producers Sonny Lester and Phil Ramone, with arranger Manny Albam.The label released original recordings in the mid to late 1960s by Joe Williams, Chick Corea, Jimmy McGriff, Dizzy Gillespie, The Thad Jones / Mel Lewis Jazz...
; his jazz suite The Soul of the City was released on that label two years later. Following that, Albam turned increasingly to teaching, a pursuit he continued until his death of cancer in 2001.
He also did the score for a few films and television programs; a song of his was included in Waking the Dead
Waking the Dead (film)
Waking the Dead is a 2000 American drama film directed by Keith Gordon. The screenplay by Robert Dillon is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Scott Spencer.-Plot:...
.
Among the Albam recordings that remain available for listeners today are The Blues is Everybody's Business, The Drum Suite, The Jazz Workshop, Jazz New York, and Something New, Something Blue.
With the encouragement of close friend Rayburn Wright, Albam started teaching summer workshops at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York in 1964. He later joined the faculties of Glassboro State College in New Jersey and the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
in New York. In 1988, he was helped establish the BMI Jazz Composer's Workshop to foster young composers and arrangers, he eventually took over as director from Bob Brookmeyer
Bob Brookmeyer
Robert Brookmeyer is an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer.-Biography:Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of Gerry Mulligan's quartet from 1954 to 1957. He later worked with Jimmy Giuffre...
. He has as long list of former students throughout the music industry and in higher education.
Discography
- 1951 : Stan Kenton: Innovations in Modern Music (Captiol)
- 1955 : Jazz Workshop (Victor) with Nick TravisNick TravisNick Travis was an American jazz trumpeter.Travis started playing professionally at age 15, playing in the early 1940s with Johnny McGhee, Vido Musso , Mitch Ayres, and Woody Herman...
, Joe NewmanJoe NewmanJoseph F. Newman is co-founder and CEO of the American Basketball Association . He was formerly owner of the Indiana Legends, which played two seasons in the ABA. He was also CEO of Joe Newman Advertising, Inc. for twenty years, and CEO of Alliance Broadcasting Group, Inc. for seven years...
, Thad JonesThad JonesThaddeus Joseph Jones was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader.-Biography:Thad Jones was born in Pontiac, Michigan to a musical family of ten . Thad Jones was a self taught musician, performing professionally by the age of sixteen...
, Urbie GreenUrbie GreenUrban Clifford "Urbie" Green is an American jazz trombonist who toured with Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Jan Savitt, and Frankie Carle....
, Bob BrookmeyerBob BrookmeyerRobert Brookmeyer is an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer.-Biography:Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of Gerry Mulligan's quartet from 1954 to 1957. He later worked with Jimmy Giuffre...
, Hal McKusickHal McKusickHal McKusick is an American-born jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist and flautist, most notable for his work with Boyd Raeburn from 1944 to 1945 and Claude Thornhill from 1948 to 1949.-Biography:...
, Al CohnAl CohnAl Cohn was an American jazz saxophonist and arranger and composer.-Biography:Alvin Gilbert Cohn was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was initially known in the 1940s for playing in Woody Herman's Second Herd as one of the Four Brothers, along with Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Serge Chaloff...
, Sol Schlinger, Milt HintonMilt HintonMilton John "Milt" Hinton , "the dean of jazz bass players," was an American jazz double bassist and photographer. He was nicknamed "The Judge".-Biography:... - 1956 : The Drum Suite (RCA Victor)
- 1957 : The Jazz Greats of Our Time, Vol. 1 (MCA)
- 1957 : Jazz Heritage : Jazz Greats of Our Time, Vol. 2 (Coral)
- 1957 : The Blues is Everybody's Business (Coral) with Bernie GlowBernie GlowBernie Glow was a trumpet player who specialized in jazz and commercial lead trumpet from the 1940s to 1970s....
, Phil WoodsPhil WoodsPhilip Wells Woods is an American jazz bebop alto saxophonist, clarinetist, bandleader and composer.-Biography:...
, Gene QuillGene QuillDaniel Eugene Quill was an American alto saxophonist known for his bebop jazz records with Phil Woods. He and Woods recorded as Phil and Quill...
, Eddie CostaEddie CostaEddie Costa, , was an American jazz pianist and vibraphonist born in Atlas, Pennsylvania near Mount Carmel, PA in Northumberland County....
, Nat PierceNat PierceNat Pierce was an American jazz pianist and arranger born in Somerville, Massachusetts, perhaps best-known for being pianist and arranger for the Woody Herman band from 1951–1955...
, Billy BauerBilly BauerBilly Bauer was an American cool jazz guitarist.-Life:Bauer was born in New York City. He played banjo as a child before switching to guitar... - 1957 : West Side Story (Coral)
- 1958 : Ellington (Coral)
- 1958 : Down Beat Jazz Concert (Fresh Sound Records)
- 1958 : Jazz New York (Dot) with Donald ByrdDonald ByrdDonaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II, is an American jazz and rhythm and blues trumpeter. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd is best known as one of the only bebop jazz musicians who successfully pioneered the funk and soul genres while simultaneously remaining a...
, Frank RehakFrank RehakFrank Rehak was a jazz trombonist.Rehak, one of the finest bop players of the fifties and sixties, first came to fame in 1949, when he joined Gene Krupa’s Orchestra along with fellow trombonist Frank Rosolino...
, Jerome RichardsonJerome RichardsonJerome Richardson was an American jazz musician, tenor saxophonist, and flute player, who also played alto sax, baritone sax, clarinet and piccolo...
, Bill EvansBill EvansWilliam John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
, Dick KatzDick KatzDick Katz was an American jazz pianist and arranger. He freelanced throughout much of his career, and worked in a number of ensembles. He co-founded Milestone Records in 1966 with Orrin Keepnews....
, Addison FarmerAddison FarmerAddison Farmer was an American jazz bassist. He was the twin brother of Art Farmer.Addison was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He took bass lessons from Fred Zimmermann, and studied at Juilliard and the Manhattan School of Music...
, Osie JohnsonOsie JohnsonJames "Osie" Johnson was a jazz drummer.He first worked with Sabby Lewis and then, after service in the United States Navy freelanced for a time in Chicago...
, Ed Shaughnessy - 1958 : Steve Allen's songs (Dot)
- 1959 : Something New, Something Blue (Columbia)
- 1959 : Drum Feast (United Artists)
- 1961 : Manny Albam and his Orchestra (RCA)
- 1961 : I Had the Craziest Dream (RCA)
- 1962 : Jazz Goes to the MoviesJazz Goes to the MoviesJazz Goes to the Movies is an album by American jazz arranger and conductor Manny Albam recorded in 1962 for the Impulse! label.-Reception:...
(Impulse! RecordsImpulse! RecordsImpulse! Records was an American jazz record label, originally established in 1960 by producer Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Records, based in New York City...
) - 1962 : Cabin in the SkyCabin in the Sky (album)Cabin in the Sky is a 1962 album by jazz trombonist Curtis Fuller, on which he plays song from the musical Cabin in the Sky.Manny Albam arranged and conducted the accompanying orchestra.-Tracklisting:#"The Prayer" #"Taking a Chance on Love"...
with Curtis FullerCurtis FullerCurtis DuBois Fuller is an American jazz trombonist, known as a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributor to many classic jazz recordings.-Biography:...
(Impulse! RecordsImpulse! RecordsImpulse! Records was an American jazz record label, originally established in 1960 by producer Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Records, based in New York City...
) - 1962 : RECADO BOSSA NOVA (SOUNDHILLS)
- 1964 : After the Lights Go Down Low and Much More!!!After the Lights Go Down Low and Much More!!!- Personnel :* Freda Payne – vocals* Manny Albam – arranger and conductor- Additional musicians :Side 1* Trumpets – Nick Travis, Ernie Royal, Al Derisi, Jimmy Nottingham* Trombones – Al Raph, Quentin Jackson, Bob Brookmeyer...
with Freda PayneFreda PayneFreda Charcilia Payne Some sources give a birth year of 1945, but this appears to be an error as all sources agree that she is older than her sister Scherrie, born 1944. is an American singer and actress best known for her million selling, 1970 hit single, "Band of Gold". She was also an actress in...
(Impulse! RecordsImpulse! RecordsImpulse! Records was an American jazz record label, originally established in 1960 by producer Creed Taylor as a subsidiary of ABC-Paramount Records, based in New York City...
) - 1966 : Brass on Fire (Solid State)
- 1966 : The Soul of the City (Solid State)
- 1967 : Sketches From the Book Of Life (Solid State)
- 1974 : The Roar Of '74 (RCA)
- 1981 : Dakota Staton/Manny Albam Big Band (EUROPA JAZZ)
- 1985 : Bud Shank Plays, The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (Mole Jazz)
- 1993 : American Jazz Philharmonic (GRP Records)
- 1997 : Hank Jones And The Meridian String Quartet (Delta)
- 1997 : Celebrating Sinatra (Blue Note Records)
- 1999 : If You Could See Us Now (Koch Jazz)
- 2001 : The Volcanic plus Latin Fire (Fresh Sound Records)
- 2004 : Jazz Greats of Our Time: Manny Albam's Complete Recordings (Lonehill Jazz Spain)
- 2008 : Al Cohn and His Charlie's Tavern Ensemble (Fresh Sounds Spain)