Ben Webster, Eddie Barefield, Buck Clayton, Benny Morton, Famous Door NYC, ca October 1947 (Gottlieb)

Benny Morton (January 31, 1907 – December 28, 1985) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...

trombonist, most associated with the swing genre.

Career

He was born in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, United States. One of his first jobs was working with Clarence Holiday, and he appeared with Clarence's daughter

Billie Holiday Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed "Lady Day" by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday had an innovative influence on jazz music and pop s ...

towards the end of her life on

The Sound of Jazz "The Sound of Jazz" is a 1957 edition of the CBS television series '' The Seven Lively Arts'' and was one of the first major programs featuring jazz to air on American network television. Overview The one-hour program aired on Sunday, December 8 ...

. Morton was a member of pianist

Teddy Wilson Theodore Shaw Wilson (November 24, 1912 – July 31, 1986) was an American jazz pianist. Described by critic Scott Yanow as "the definitive swing pianist", Wilson had a sophisticated, elegant style. His work was featured on the records of many ...

's Sextet throughout the early 1940s. In the 1960s he was part of the Jazz Giants band: "Wild" Bill Davison (cornet),

Herb Hall Herbert L. Hall (March 28, 1907 – March 5, 1996) was an American jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist. Early life Hall was born in Reserve, Louisiana, the brother of Edmond Hall and the son of clarinetist Edward Hall. Career Hall bega ...

(clarinet and alto),

Claude Hopkins Claude Driskett Hopkins (August 24, 1903 – February 19, 1984) was an American jazz stride pianist and bandleader. Biography Claude Hopkins was born in Alexandria, Virginia, United States. Historians differ in respect of the actual date of his ...

(piano), Arvell Shaw (bass) and

Buzzy Drootin Benjamin "Buzzy" Drootin (April 22, 1920 – May 21, 2000) was an American jazz drummer. Career Drootin was born near Kyiv, Ukraine, and moved to Boston, Massachusetts, United States, with his family when he was five. His father played the ...

(drums). They toured the U.S. and frequently in Canada where they did some recording for

Sackville Records Sackville Records was a Canadian record company and label that specialized in jazz.Gardner/Kernfeld, "Sackville". '' Grove Jazz'' online. In 2011, with Sackville defunct, Delmark Records acquired its catalogue. Sackville was founded in 1968 in ...

. Towards the end of the 1960s, he played with an offshoot of the Jazz Giants under the leadership of Buzzy Drootin, called Buzzy's Jazz Family, including Herb Hall, with Herman Autrey replacing Davison, Buzzy's nephew Sonny Drootin replacing Hopkins, and Eddie Gibbs replacing Shaw. He is probably best known for his work with

Count Basie William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...

and

Fletcher Henderson James Fletcher Hamilton Henderson (December 18, 1897 – December 29, 1952) was an American pianist, bandleader, arranger and composer, important in the development of big band jazz and swing music. He was one of the most prolific black music ...

. On February 23, 1934, Morton led a session of four songs that were issued under his own name (Benny Morton & His Orchestra). Made up mostly of member of Fletcher Henderson's and Don Redman's band, they included: Henry Allen-trumpet/Benny Morton-trombone/

Edward Inge Edward Inge (May 7, 1906 – October 8, 1988) was an American jazz arranger and reedist. Inge was raised in Kansas City and played clarinet from age 12. He played with George Reynolds's Orchestra when he was 18, then worked with Dewey Jackson, A ...

-clarinet and alto saxophone/Jerry Blake-clarinet-alto saxophone)/Ted McRae-tenor saxophone/Don Kirkpatrick-piano/Bobby Johnson-guitar/Billy Taylor-slap bass/Manzie Johnson-drums. * W 152717-2-3 "Get Goin'" (vocal and arrangement by Jerry Blake) (Columbia) * W 152718-1 "Fare Thee Well To Harlem" (vocal by Jerry Blake) (Columbia) * W 152719-1 "Tailor Made" (arranged by Billy Taylor) (Columbia) * W 152720-2 "The Gold Digger's Song (We're In The Money)" (vocal by Henry Allen) (Columbia) Benny Morton died in December 1985, at the age of 78.

Discography

With

*'' The Original American Decca Recordings'' (GRP, 1937-39 992 With

Ray Bryant Raphael Homer "Ray" Bryant (December 24, 1931 – June 2, 2011) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. Early life Bryant was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 24, 1931. His mother was an ordained minister who had tau ...

*'' Madison Time'' (Columbia, 1960) ;With

Buck Clayton Wilbur Dorsey "Buck" Clayton (November 12, 1911 – December 8, 1991) was an American jazz trumpeter who was a member of Count Basie's orchestra. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong, first hearing the record "Confessin' That I Love You" ...

and

Ruby Braff Reuben "Ruby" Braff (March 16, 1927 – February 9, 2003) was an American jazz trumpeter and cornetist. Jack Teagarden was once asked about him on the Garry Moore television show and described Ruby as "the Ivy League Louis Armstrong". Braff ...

*''

Buck Meets Ruby ''Buck Meets Ruby'' is an album by trumpeters Buck Clayton and Ruby Braff which was recorded in 1954 and released on the Vanguard label originally as a four track 10-inch LP.Rex Stewart Rex William Stewart Jr. (February 22, 1907 – September 7, 1967) was an American jazz cornetist who was a member of the Duke Ellington orchestra. Career As a boy he studied piano and violin; most of his career was spent on cornet. Stewart drop ...

*''

Henderson Homecoming ''Henderson Homecoming'' is a live album performed by cornetist Rex Stewart with the Fletcher Henderson Alumni that was recorded at the Great South Bay Jazz Festival in 1958 and released on the United Artists label.Edwards, D., Eyries, P. & Calla ...

'' (United Artists, 1959) ;With

Dicky Wells William Wells (June 10, 1907 – November 12, 1985), known professionally as Dicky Wells (sometimes Dickie Wells), was an American jazz trombonist. Career Dickie Wells is believed to have been born on June 10, 1907 in Centerville, Tennessee, Un ...

*''

Bones for the King ''Bones for the King'' is an album by trombonist Dicky Wells which was recorded in 1958 and released on the Felsted label.Trombone Four-in-Hand ''Trombone Four-in-Hand'' is an album by trombonist Dicky Wells which was recorded in 1959 and released on the Felsted label.

'' (Felsted, 1959)

References

External links

Jazz Professional InterviewBenny Morton papers

Institute of Jazz Studies The Institute of Jazz Studies (IJS) is the largest and most comprehensive library and archives of jazz and jazz-related materials in the world. It is located on the fourth floor of the John Cotton Dana Library at Rutgers University–Newark in Newa ...

, Rutgers University {{DEFAULTSORT:Morton, Benny 1907 births 1985 deaths American jazz trombonists Male trombonists Musicians from New York City Count Basie Orchestra members Blue Note Records artists 20th-century American musicians Jazz musicians from New York (state) 20th-century trombonists American male jazz musicians 20th-century American male musicians