| Red Norvo | |
|---|---|
 Norvo in The Screaming Mimi (1958) | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Kenneth Norville |
| Born | 31 March 1908 |
| Origin |  Beardstown, Illinois. Screaming Mimi ( 1958) is a Film noir directed by Gerd Oswald, and based on the novel by pulp novelist Fredric Brown. Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. |
| Died | 6 April 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Vibraphonist |
| Instrument(s) | Vibraphone, Marimba, Xylophone |
| Associated acts | Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, Woody Herman |
Red Norvo (31 March 1908–6 April 1999) was one of jazz's early vibraphonists. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Notable players of the Vibraphone include Roy Ayers Karl Berger Jeff Berman Austin Billings A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a Musical instrument in the mallet subfamily of the percussion family In some parts of Africa the term "marimba" refers to the Kalimba. The xylophone (from the Greek words ξύλον - xylon, "wood" + φωνή - phone, "voice" meaning "wooden Paul Whiteman ( March 28, 1890 &ndash December 29, 1967) was an American orchestral For other persons with this name see Charlie Barnett. Charles Daly Barnet ( October 26, 1913 – September 4 Woodrow Charles Herman ( May 16 1913 &ndash October 29 1987) better known as Woody Herman, was an American Jazz Events 307 - After divorcing his wife Minervina, Constantine marries Fausta, the daughter of the retired Roman Emperor Year 1908 ( MCMVIII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats Caecilius Metellus Scipio and Marcus Porcius Cato in the Battle of Thapsus Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States The vibraphone, sometimes called the vibraharp or simply the vibes, is a Musical instrument in the mallet subfamily of the percussion family He helped establish the xylophone and later the vibraphone as viable jazz instruments.
Norvo was born Kenneth Norville in Beardstown, Illinois. Beardstown is a city in Cass County, Illinois, United States. The story goes that he sold his pet pony to help pay for his first marimba. In some parts of Africa the term "marimba" refers to the Kalimba. Norvo's career began in Chicago with a band called "The Collegians", in 1925. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Year 1925 ( MCMXXV) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He played with many other bands, including an all-marimba band on the vaudeville circuit, and the bands of Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, and Woody Herman. Vaudeville was a Genre of variety entertainment prevalent on the stage in the United States and Canada, from the early 1880s Paul Whiteman ( March 28, 1890 &ndash December 29, 1967) was an American orchestral For other persons with this name see Charlie Barnett. Charles Daly Barnet ( October 26, 1913 – September 4 Woodrow Charles Herman ( May 16 1913 &ndash October 29 1987) better known as Woody Herman, was an American Jazz Norvo recorded with Mildred Bailey (his wife), Billie Holiday, Dinah Shore and Frank Sinatra, among others. Mildred Bailey ( February 27 1907 &ndash December 12 1951) was a popular American Jazz Singer during the 1930s Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7 1915 – July 17 1959 was an American Jazz singer and songwriter Dinah Shore (born Frances Rose Shore February 29, 1916 - February 24, 1994) was an American Singer, Actress Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor Together, Red and Mildred were known as "Mr. and Mrs. Swing. " He also appeared in the film Screaming Mimi (1958), playing himself.
In 1933 he recorded two sessions for Brunswick under his own name. Brunswick Records is a United States based Record label. The label is currently distributed by Koch Entertainment. The first "Knockin' On Wood" and "Hole In The Wall" pleased Brunswick's recording director Jack Kapp and he was booked for another session. Jack Kapp was a record company executive with Brunswick Records who founded Decca Records in 1934 This time, Kapp was out of town and Norvo went ahead and recorded two of the earliest, most modern pieces of chamber jazz yet recorded; Bix Beiderbecke's "In A Mist" and Norvo's own "Dance Of The Octopus", accompanied by Benny Goodman in a rare performance playing a bass clarinet, Dick McDonough on guitar and Artie Bernstein on slap bass. Chamber jazz is a genre of jazz based around small acoustic-based ensembles where group interplay is important Leon Bix Beiderbecke ( March 10, 1903 &ndash August 6, 1931) was an American Jazz Cornetist and composer as well Dick McDonough (1904-May 25 1938 was an American Jazz guitarist Artie Bernstein ( 1909-02-04 &ndash 1964-01-04) was an American jazz bassist. Kapp was outraged when he heard them and tore up Norvo's contract and threw him out. (Interestingly, this modern record remained in print all through the 1930's!)
Norvo recorded 8 modern swing sides for Columbia in 1934-1935, and 15 sides of Decca and their short-lived Champion label series in 1936 (strangely enough, Jack Kapp ran Decca, so they must've patched things up by then). Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Decca Records is a British Record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. A champion (identical to the French from the late Latin campio) is one who has repeatedly come out first among contestants in challenges (especially the winner of a tournament
Starting in 1936 through 1942, Norvo formed a Swing Orchestra and recorded for ARC first on their Brunswick label, then Vocalion and finally Columbia, after CBS bought out the ARC company. Brunswick Records is a United States based Record label. The label is currently distributed by Koch Entertainment. Vocalion Records was a Record label historically active in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Columbia Records is an American Record label founded in 1888 Columbia is the oldest surviving Brand name in pre-recorded sound being the first record company Featuring the brilliant arrangements of Eddie Sauter and often featuring Mildred Bailey as vocalist, this series of recordings were among the more sophisticated and elegant swing records of the era. Edward Ernest Sauter ( December 2, 1914 in Brooklyn – April 21, 1981 in New York City) was a composer and jazz arranger Mildred Bailey ( February 27 1907 &ndash December 12 1951) was a popular American Jazz Singer during the 1930s
In June 1945, while a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet, he recorded a session for Comet records using a Sextet which featured members of the Goodman group and also Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie ( October 21 1917 &ndash January 6 1993) was an American Jazz Trumpeter He said: "Bird and Diz were dirty words for musicians of my generation. But jazz had always gone through changes and in 1945 we were in the middle of another one. Bird and Diz were saying new things in an exciting way. I had a free hand so I gambled". [1]
In 1949, while trying to find work near home on the West Coast and running into difficulties with large groups, Norvo formed a trio with the novel combination of vibes, guitar, and bass. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. When the original guitarist and bassist quit (Mundell Lowe and Red Kelly), he brought in two previously little-known players. Mundell Lowe (born 1922 is an American Jazz Guitarist Lowe was born in Laurel Mississippi. Leonard Patrick "Red" Kelly, '''CM''' (born 9 July 1927 in Port Dover Ontario) is a retired Canadian hockey player in Tal Farlow became one of the most important of the post-War generation of guitarists, in part because the demands of the trio led him to explore new levels of both speed and harmonic richness on the instrument. Talmage Holt Farlow ( June 7, 1921 &ndash July 25, 1998) was a Jazz Guitarist He was born in Greensboro North Charles Mingus's prominence as a bass player increased through this group, though its reportoire did not reflect the major career he would develop as a composer. Charles Mingus ( 22 April 1922 &ndash 5 January 1979) was an American Jazz Bassist, Composer, The trio lasted until 1951, and recorded two LPs for Savoy.
In 1959 Norvo's group played concerts in Australia with Frank Sinatra; Blue Note released these recordings in 1997. Red Norvo and his group also made several appearances on The Dinah Shore Chevy Show in the late 1950's and early '60s. The Dinah Shore Chevy Show is an American variety series broadcast by NBC from 1956 to 1963.
Norvo recorded and toured throughout his career until a stroke in the mid-1980s forced him into retirement (although he developed hearing problems long before his stroke). A stroke is the rapidly developing loss of brain functions due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. He died at a convalescent home in Santa Monica, California at the age of 91.
References
- ^ Quoted in sleevesnotes for "Red Norvo's Fabulous Jam Session", Spotlite SPJ127
External links
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