Pianist and educator Billy Taylor was born July 24, 1921 in Greenville, NC though his early music development took place in Washington DC. He learned piano from Henry Grant, the same man who a generation earlier had trained Duke Ellington. A highly respected player, he was sought out as a sideman by Ben Webster, Charlie […]

The veteran swing tenor joins up with a young European jazz group Scott Hamilton has been a major tenor-saxophonist since he was in his early twenties nearly 50 years ago. These days he is based in Italy and plays frequently on the European continent. In 2015 he met up with a young quintet led by […]

Drummer Philly Joe Jones was born on July 15, 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After his service in World War II, Jones became the house drummer at Café Society in New York, where he first played with many of bebop’s biggest names. There he would perform regularly with bop artists which included Charlie Parker and Dizzy […]

Singer and bandleader William Clarence “Billy” Eckstine was born on July 8, 1914 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An important cultural figure, Eckstine was one of the first black male singers to specialize in romantic ballads rather than simply blues and novelty songs. In 1939 he joined as trumpeter and vocalist with Earl Hines’ “Grand Terrace Orchestra.” remaining with […]

Saxophonist and composer Hank Mobley was born on July 7, 1930 in Eastman, Georgia. While temporarily homebound with an illness at 16, Mobley’s uncle suggested picking up the sax to stay occupied. At the age of nineteen he performed with Dizzy Gillespie and Max Roach and took part of the first hard bop sessions with […]

Keyboardist and composer Josef Erich “Joe” Zawinul was born on July 7, 1932 in Vienna, Austria. Zawinul received classical training at the Conservatory of Vienna before moving to the US upon receiving a scholarship to Berklee School of Music. He worked with Miles Davis during the late ’60s appearing on “Bitche’s Brew” and writing the title track […]

Drummer, Composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator Louis Bellson was born on July 6, 1924 in Rock Falls, Illinois. A drummer from a young age, Louie developed a style influenced by the playing of Papa Jo Jones and Big Sid Catlett. He worked with Benny Goodman in 1943 and went on to perform in the bands […]

Trumpeter and singer Louis Armstrong and his family says he was born on July 4th, 1900. It’s possible he changed the year from 1901 to 1900 in order to appear a year older so that he could qualify for military service which he applied for during WW I. Theories that he was born on August 4th are […]

Pianist, composer, group leader, and educator Ahmad Jamal was born on July 2, 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started on the piano at 3 and started playing professionally at 14 when Art Tatum recognized him as a “coming great.” Influenced early on by hometown piano greats Earl Hines, Erroll Garner, and Mary Lou Williams he […]

Pianist and composer Andrew Hill was born on June 30, 1931 in Chicago, Illinois. Piano began for him at 13 with the enthusiastic encouragement of Earl Hines. As a teenager he gigged with Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. He released a string of masterpiece albums as a leader for Blue Note in the 1960s with […]