Don Redman

Happy Birthday, Don Redman July 29 1900-November 30, 1964....Redman is considered one of the first great jazz arrangers and is often credited with creating the jazz-oriented Big Band sound. Born in West Virginia to musical parents, he was playing the trumpet at age three, joined his first band at age 6 and had mastered just about every wind instrument plus the piano by the age  of 12. He got his start with a brief stint with Billy Page's Broadway Syncopaters in New York, moving on to Fletcher Henderson's orchestra in 1923.

Hired initially to play clarinet and saxophone, Redman soon took on the job of arranging for Henderson's orchestra. His unique approach to formulating the arranged hot-jazz sound was sophisticated and highly innovative and laid the groundwork for much of the big band writing that was to come. Redman also sang/spoke and his recording of "My Papa Doesn't Two-Time" in 1924 was the first scat vocal recorded, predating Louis Armstrong. When Armstrong joined Henderson's orchestra, Redman was inspired to loosen up and really start swinging his arrangements which resulted in several classics including "Sugar Foot Stomp" and "The Stampede".

In 1927 Gene Goldkette persuaded Redman to leave Henderson to direct McKinney's Cotton Pickers. The little known band soon became a strong competitor of Henderson's and recorded some future standards like "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good To You." and "Cherry". He also did some arranging and recording with Louis Armstrong's Savoy Ballroom Five in 1928. In 1931 he formed his own band which got a residency at Connie's Inn, a famous jazz club in New York and signed with Brunswick records making some classic recordings with the label from 1931-1934. Redman's orchestra continued to play and record until 1940.

After disbanding his orchestra, Redman continued to arrange for various bands throughout the swing era including Count Basie, Jimmy Dorsey and Harry James. In 1946 he led an all-star orchestra that was the first big band to tour Europe after WW2. In the 1950's he was the music director for Pearl Bailey and in the early sixties he played soprano sax with Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle's band. He did record a few sessions in the late 50's but Redman's main contribution to the development of jazz remains his work of the 1920's and 30's.