Leroy Vinnegar, Bass, 1928, Indianapolis, Ind
Leroy, a self-taught musician, began his professional career in Chicago in the early' 50s. In 1954 he moved to Los Angeles where he quickly became popular in jazz circles, playing with musicians such as Stan Getz, Shorty Rogers, Herb Geller, Chet Baker, and Serge Chaloff. He also performed with Shelly Manne and Andre Previn, in the trio that recorded the best-selling jazz album, "My Fair Lady". His first recordings as a leader were in1957, and from 1959 he worked frequently with Joe Castro,and Teddy Edwards, sharing leadership duties with them on several occasions ,and the group also made a tour of Europe. Thereafter Leroy worked as a freelance with both jazz and semi-commercial groups. He made several appearances on television in 1981-83 with the band The Panama Hats, accompanying the actor and banjoist George Segal. Leroy is best known for his walking bass lines, but he occasionally plays melodic solos. His keen sense of swing and ability as a bop player established him as part of the West Coast movement.
Albert Ayler, Saxophone, 1936, Cleveland, Ohio
Albert began saxophone lessons at age seven. His father, a musician, trained him for a number of years. He played professionally in rhythm-and-blues bands while still in his teens. By the time he was 16 he had already toured with Little Walter and His Jukes. In 1959 Albert joined the army and played in army concert bands for three years. He occasionally played in Paris clubs while stationed in France in the early '60s. After his discharge from the army, Albert remained in Europe, leading a bop trio for eight months in Sweden. He also worked in Copenhagen where he led and recorded with a several studio groups. In 1963 Ayler returned to New York and then returned to Cleveland for a short while, owing to a lack of work in the New York area. The next year he formed a quartet in New York with Don Cherry, Gary Peacock and Sunny Murray. Ayler never found a steady audience for his radical music, his group appeared perhaps only three times in 1965. Although his albums were well received by the critics, he was never really able to make a living with his music. He never made an effort to clarify his music for his audience, actively discouraging interpretations of his recordings. He always stressed the musics social and spiritual value more than the music itself. Nevertheless, when working in studios or at festivals, he alway s seemed to assemble faithful sidemen. In November of 1970, shortly after returning from a European tour, Ayler was reported missing. His body was found in the East River on November 25th.
Johnny Hartman, Singer, 1923, Chicago, IL
Johnny began singing with his high school jazz orchestra, studied at Chicago Musical College, and performed professionally before entering military service . After the war he sang with Earl Hines, Dizzy Gillespie, and Erroll Garner. He next persued a career as a soloist, working in nightclubs and on television. During the 1960s he worked with John Coltrane, recording a beautiful album of ballads, "John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman", in 1963. In the mid '70s he performed and recorded in Tokyo with Roland Hanna and George Mraz, and in 1981 his album "Once in Every Life", was nominated for a Grammy Award. Johnny's repertory encompassed country music, jazz standards, and popular songs, and easy listening (such as "Rain Drops Keep Fallin' On My Head"). In all these styles he enunciated clearly, rolling and caressing each syllable in a manner that imbued each word with power. This style, with the soft richness and depth of his full baritone voice, made his work popular with a large audience. He was at his best on slower ballads such as "Lush Life", but he brought a sense of swing and rhythmic phrasing to any song he worked on. Johnny Hartman died in 1983.
