Otto Hardwick
Encyclopedia
Otto James "Toby" Hardwicke (May 31, 1904 – August 5, 1970) was a saxophone player associated with Duke Ellington
.
at Murray's Casino.
In 1923, Ellington, Hardwick, Snowden, trumpeter Arthur Whetsol
, and drummer Sonny Greer
had success as the Washingtonians in New York. After a disagreement over money, Snowden was forced out of the band and Duke Ellington
was elected as the new leader.
They were booked at a Times Square
nightspot called the Kentucky Club for three years where they met Irving Mills
, who produced and published Ellington's music.
Hardwick occasionally doubled violin and string bass in the 1920s, but specialized on alto sax. He also played clarinet and bass, baritone and soprano saxes.
Hardwick left the Duke Ellington
band in 1928 to visit Europe, where he played with Noble Sissle
, Sidney Bechet
and Nekka Shaw's Orchestra, and led his own orchestra before returning to New York in 1929.
He had a brief stint with Chick Webb
(1929), then led his own band at the Hot Feet Club, with Fats Waller
leading the rhythm section (1930), led at Small's before rejoining Duke Ellington in the spring of 1932, following a brief stint with Elmer Snowden
.
He played lead alto on most Ellington numbers from 1932 to 1946 but he was rarely heard as a soloist because Johnny Hodges
got many of the alto solos. Famous exceptions are: Black And Tan Fantasy, In A Sentimental Mood and Sophisticated Lady. Hardwick, with his creamy tone, was almost always the lead alto in the reed section of the Ellington orchestra except in some situations where Ellington required the more cutting tone of Johnny Hodges' alto to set the tone of the ensemble. After Hardwick's departure (and replacement by Russell Procope) it soon became the norm for Johnny Hodges to take the ensemble lead as well as taking the lion's share of the solos on alto sax.
He remained with Ellington until May 1946, when he left the Ellington band because of differences over of Hardwick’s girlfriend. Hardwick went on to freelance for a short time in the following year, and then retired from music.
According to author James Lincoln Collier
in his biography of Duke Ellington, “In a Sentimental Mood,” “Sophisticated Lady,” and “Prelude to a Kiss,” are adaptations of Hardwick melodies.
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
.
Biography
Hardwick started on string bass at the age of 14, then moved to C-melody sax and finally settled on alto saxophone. A childhood friend of Duke Ellington's, Hardwick joined Ellington's first band in Washington, D. C. in 1919. Hardwick also worked for banjoist Elmer SnowdenElmer Snowden
Elmer Snowden was a banjo player of the jazz age. He also played guitar and, in the early stages of his career, all the reed instruments. He contributed greatly to jazz in its early days as both a player and a bandleader, and is responsible for launching the careers of many top musicians...
at Murray's Casino.
In 1923, Ellington, Hardwick, Snowden, trumpeter Arthur Whetsol
Arthur Whetsol
Arthur Whetsel was an early "sweet" trumpeter for Duke Ellington's Washingtonians.Leaving the band in 1923 to study medicine, he returned in 1928 to perform on a number of Ellington's most recognizable pieces during Ellington's stint at the Cotton Club, including "Black Beauty", "Black and Tan",...
, and drummer Sonny Greer
Sonny Greer
Sonny Greer was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with Duke Ellington.Greer was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, and played with Elmer Snowden's band and the Howard Theatre's orchestra in Washington, D.C. before joining Duke Ellington, who he met in 1919...
had success as the Washingtonians in New York. After a disagreement over money, Snowden was forced out of the band and Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
was elected as the new leader.
They were booked at a Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
nightspot called the Kentucky Club for three years where they met Irving Mills
Irving Mills
Irving Mills was a jazz music publisher, also known by the name of "Joe Primrose."Mills was born to Jewish parents in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. He founded Mills Music with his brother Jack in 1919...
, who produced and published Ellington's music.
Hardwick occasionally doubled violin and string bass in the 1920s, but specialized on alto sax. He also played clarinet and bass, baritone and soprano saxes.
Hardwick left the Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
band in 1928 to visit Europe, where he played with Noble Sissle
Noble Sissle
Noble Sissle was an American jazz composer, lyricist, bandleader, singer and playwright.-Early life:...
, Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet
Sidney Bechet was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer.He was one of the first important soloists in jazz , and was perhaps the first notable jazz saxophonist...
and Nekka Shaw's Orchestra, and led his own orchestra before returning to New York in 1929.
He had a brief stint with Chick Webb
Chick Webb
William Henry Webb, usually known as Chick Webb was an American jazz and swing music drummer as well as a band leader.-Biography:...
(1929), then led his own band at the Hot Feet Club, with Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
leading the rhythm section (1930), led at Small's before rejoining Duke Ellington in the spring of 1932, following a brief stint with Elmer Snowden
Elmer Snowden
Elmer Snowden was a banjo player of the jazz age. He also played guitar and, in the early stages of his career, all the reed instruments. He contributed greatly to jazz in its early days as both a player and a bandleader, and is responsible for launching the careers of many top musicians...
.
He played lead alto on most Ellington numbers from 1932 to 1946 but he was rarely heard as a soloist because Johnny Hodges
Johnny Hodges
John Cornelius "Johnny" Hodges was an American alto saxophonist, best known for his solo work with Duke Ellington's big band. He played lead alto in the saxophone section for many years, except the period between 1932–1946 when Otto Hardwick generally played first chair...
got many of the alto solos. Famous exceptions are: Black And Tan Fantasy, In A Sentimental Mood and Sophisticated Lady. Hardwick, with his creamy tone, was almost always the lead alto in the reed section of the Ellington orchestra except in some situations where Ellington required the more cutting tone of Johnny Hodges' alto to set the tone of the ensemble. After Hardwick's departure (and replacement by Russell Procope) it soon became the norm for Johnny Hodges to take the ensemble lead as well as taking the lion's share of the solos on alto sax.
He remained with Ellington until May 1946, when he left the Ellington band because of differences over of Hardwick’s girlfriend. Hardwick went on to freelance for a short time in the following year, and then retired from music.
According to author James Lincoln Collier
James Lincoln Collier
James Lincoln Collier is a journalist, author, and professional musician.Collier was born to Edmund Collier and Katherine Brown. He came from a family of writers and teachers, including his father and several aunts and uncles. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1950...
in his biography of Duke Ellington, “In a Sentimental Mood,” “Sophisticated Lady,” and “Prelude to a Kiss,” are adaptations of Hardwick melodies.
External links
- http://www.basssax.com/ottohardwick.htm