Today in Jazz

Kenny Dorham, Trumpet, 1924, Fairfield, TX

Kenny cane to prominence while working in swing bands and in the innovative big bop bands of Dizzy Gillespie and Billy Eckstie in the early '40s.  While with Dizzy he also performed as a blues singer.  In 1948 he began an important association with Charlie Parker's quintet that lasted about a year.   During the early '50s he worked and recorded as a freelance, and in 1954 was a founding member, along with Art Blakey, of the Jazz Messengers.  In the mid '60s he played in Max Roach's quintet, replacing Clifford Brown, who met a tragic death in an automobile accident.  Later, he taught at the Lenox (Massachusetts) School of  Jazz for several years.  In the late '50s, while living in France,  he appeared in several films..  In his best recording period, in the  of the late '50s, Dorham rivaled his greatest contemporaries in technical command and beautiful tone.  Kenny Durham died in 1972.

Rodney Jones, Guitar, 1856, New Haven, CT

Rodney took lessons with several teachers and then studied with John Lewis at City College, CUNY.   In the mid '70s he was active with Jaki Byard's group, and also recorded with Chico Hamilton and Dizzy Gillespie's quartet..  He remained with Dizzy until the late '70s, and at the same time played with his own quartet, with which he recorded and toured Europe.  He also did a fare amount of  recording with groups led by Tommy Flanagan and Hank Jones and accompanied the vibraphonist Darji.  Jones' own group continued to be active,  mainly in New York well into the 1980s.  In 1983 he joined the popular singer Lena Horne as her guitarist and arranger and became less active as a jazz musician.  Today,  Rodney is very active in the studios, recording pop music and jazz with various groups.

Willie Bryant, Leader, 1908, New Orleans, LA

Jewel Brown, Singer, 1937, Houston, TX

Kid Rena, Trumpet, 1898, New Orleans, LA

August 2008

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