Addison Gerald Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa – February 20, 1963, New York City) 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 majo ...
Farmer was born an hour after his twin brother, on August 21, 1928, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, reportedly at 2201 Fourth Avenue.Balliett, Whitney (September 23, 1985) "Profiles: Here and Abroad" ''The New Yorker'', pp. 43–55. Their parents, James Arthur Farmer and Hazel Stewart Farmer, divorced when the boys were four, and their steelworker father was killed in a work accident not long after this.Heckman, Don & Thurber, Jon (October 07, 1999) "Art Farmer: eloquent jazz master of the trumpet and fluegelhorn ''Los Angeles Times''. /ref>Balliett, Whitney (2006) ''American Musicians II: Seventy-One Portraits in Jazz''. University Press of Mississippi. Addison moved with his grandfather, grandmother, mother, brother and sister to
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix ( ; nv, Hoozdo; es, Fénix or , yuf-x-wal, Banyà:nyuwá) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona, with 1,608,139 residents as of 2020. It is the fifth-most populous city in the United States, and the o ...
Los Angeles
Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the wor ...
in 1945, attending the music-oriented
Jefferson High School
This is a list of memorials to Thomas Jefferson, the 3rd president of the United States and the author of the United States Declaration of Independence.
Buildings Elementary schools
*Jefferson Elementary School, in Cammack Village, Arkansas
*Thoma ...
, where they gained music instruction and met other developing musicians such as
Sonny Criss
William "Sonny" Criss (23 October 1927 – 19 November 1977) was an American jazz musician.
An alto saxophonist of prominence during the bebop era of jazz, he was one of many players influenced by Charlie Parker.
Biography
William Criss w ...
Ed Thigpen
Edmund Leonard Thigpen (December 28, 1930 – January 13, 2010) was an American jazz drummer, best known for his work with the Oscar Peterson trio from 1959 to 1965. Thigpen also performed with the Billy Taylor trio from 1956 to 1959.
Biograph ...
.Bryant, Clora (1998) ''Central Avenue Sounds: Jazz in Los Angeles''. University of California Press. The brothers earned money by working in a cold-storage warehouse and by playing professionally.
He took bass lessons from Frederick Zimmermann, and studied at
Juilliard
The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most e ...
and the
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music (MSM) is a private music conservatory in New York City. The school offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition, as well as a bachelor's in mu ...
.
Career
By late 1945, Farmer was with
Johnny Alston
Johnny is an English language personal name. It is usually an affectionate diminutive of the masculine given name John (given name), John, but from the 16th century it has sometimes been a given name in its own right for males and, less commonly ...
Jeanne Demetz
Jeanne may refer to:
Places
* Jeanne (crater), on Venus
People
* Jeanne (given name)
* Joan of Arc (Jeanne d'Arc, 1412–1431)
* Joanna of Flanders (1295–1374)
* Joan, Duchess of Brittany (1319–1384)
* Ruth Stuber Jeanne (1910–2004), Americ ...
and, shortly after, on the
Blue Moon
A blue moon is an additional full moon that appears in a subdivision of a year: the third of four full moons in a season.
The phrase in modern usage has nothing to do with the actual color of the Moon, although a visually blue Moon (the Moon a ...
Al "Cake" Wichard
Al "Cake" Wichard (born Albert C. Wichard, August 15, 1918 or 1919 — November 14, 1959) was an American blues and jazz drummer, especially active as a recording artist in the late 1940s.
Biography
He was born in Morrilton, Arkansas, in ei ...
and King Fleming. He later recorded with Teddy Edwards's band. Farmer played in several groups with his brother, including in ensembles led by
Benny Golson
Benny Golson (born January 25, 1929) is an American bebop/ hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He came to prominence with the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie, more as a writer than a performer, before launc ...
and
Gigi Gryce
Gigi Gryce (born George General Grice Jr.; November 28, 1925 – March 14, 1983), later Basheer Qusim, was an American jazz saxophonist, flautist, clarinetist, composer, arranger, and educator.
While his performing career was relatively short, ...
. He also played with
Mose Allison
Mose John Allison Jr. (November 11, 1927 – November 15, 2016) was an American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter. He became notable for playing a unique mix of blues and modern jazz, both singing and playing piano. After moving to ...
,
Jay McShann
James Columbus "Jay" McShann (January 12, 1916 – December 7, 2006) was an American jazz pianist, vocalist, composer, and bandleader. He led bands in Kansas City, Missouri, that included Charlie Parker, Bernard Anderson, Walter Brown, and ...
,
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker Jr. (August 29, 1920 – March 12, 1955), nicknamed "Bird" or "Yardbird", was an American jazz saxophonist, band leader and composer. Parker was a highly influential soloist and leading figure in the development of bebop, a form ...
, and
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26, 1926September 28, 1991) was an American trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. He is among the most influential and acclaimed figures in the history of jazz and 20th-century music. Davis adopted a variety of musi ...
. He recorded extensively for
Prestige Records
Prestige Records is a jazz record company and label founded in 1949 by Bob Weinstock in New York City which issued recordings in the mainstream, bop, and cool jazz idioms. The company recorded hundreds of albums by many of the leading jazz musi ...
.
Farmer died from
sudden unexpected death syndrome
Sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) is a sudden unexpected death of adolescents and adults, mainly during sleep. One relatively common type is known as Brugada syndrome.
The syndrome is rare in most areas around the world but occurs in po ...
on February 20, 1963, in New York City at the age of 34.
Discography
As sideman
With
Mose Allison
Mose John Allison Jr. (November 11, 1927 – November 15, 2016) was an American jazz and blues pianist, singer, and songwriter. He became notable for playing a unique mix of blues and modern jazz, both singing and playing piano. After moving to ...
*''
Local Color
Local color/colour may refer to:
* ''Local Color'' (book), a 1950 note and sketch study by Truman Capote
* ''Local Color'' (Mose Allison album), 1958
* ''Local Color'' (University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band One album), 2015
* ''Local Color'' (film ...
'' (Prestige, 1957)
*''
Young Man Mose
''Young Man Mose'' is the third album by blues/jazz pianist and vocalist Mose Allison which was recorded in 1958 and released on the Prestige label.Ramblin' with Mose
''Ramblin' with Mose'' is the sixth album to be released (but fourth recorded) by blues/jazz pianist and vocalist Mose Allison which was recorded in 1958 and released on the Prestige label.Creek Bank
''Creek Bank'' is the fourth album to be released (but fifth album recorded) by blues/jazz pianist and vocalist Mose Allison which was recorded in 1958 and released on the Prestige label.Autumn Song'' (Prestige, 1959)
*''
I Don't Worry About a Thing
''I Don't Worry About a Thing'' is an album by American pianist, vocalist and composer Mose Allison recorded for the Atlantic Records, Atlantic label in 1962.
Down Home Piano
Down most often refers to:
* Down, the relative direction opposed to up
* Down (gridiron football), in American/Canadian football, a period when one play takes place
* Down feather, a soft bird feather used in bedding and clothing
* Downland, a ty ...
'' (Prestige, 1965)
With
Gene Ammons
Eugene "Jug" Ammons (April 14, 1925 – August 6, 1974), also known as "The Boss", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. The son of boogie-woogie pianist Albert Ammons, Gene Ammons is remembered for his accessible music, steeped in soul and ...
Bob Brookmeyer
Robert Edward "Bob" Brookmeyer (December 19, 1929 – December 15, 2011) was an American jazz valve trombonist, pianist, arranger, and composer. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Brookmeyer first gained widespread public attention as a member of ...
*''
Kansas City Revisited
''Kansas City Revisited'' is an album by jazz trombonist and arranger Bob Brookmeyer featuring Brookmeyer's new orchestrations of 1920s and '30s era Kansas City jazz tunes. The album was recorded in 1958 for the United Artists label.Berry, S. C.A ...
'' (United Artists, 1958)
With
Teddy Charles
Teddy Charles (April 13, 1928 – April 16, 2012) was an American jazz musician and composer, whose instruments were the vibraphone, piano, and drums.
Career
Born Theodore Charles Cohen in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, United States, he ...
*''
Word from Bird
''Word from Bird'' is an album by American jazz vibraphonist Teddy Charles released on the Atlantic label in 1957.Cohen, N.The Teddy Charles Discographyaccessed September 8, 2015
Reception
Allmusic calls the album "enjoyable".
Track listing
' ...
'' (Atlantic, 1957)
*''
Coolin'
''Coolin is an album by the Prestige All Stars nominally led by vibraphonist Teddy Charles recorded in 1957 and released on the Prestige label.Cohan, N.Teddy Charles discography accessed March 30, 2015
Reception
Allmusic reviewed the album stati ...
When Farmer Met Gryce
''When Farmer Met Gryce'' is an album by trumpeter Art Farmer and saxophonist Gigi Gryce, featuring performances recorded in 1954 and 1955 and released on the Prestige label.
'' (Prestige, 1954–55)
*''
Art Farmer Quintet featuring Gigi Gryce
''Art Farmer Quintet featuring Gigi Gryce'' (also released as ''Evening in Casablanca'') is an album by trumpeter Art Farmer's Quintet featuring saxophonist Gigi Gryce. It was recorded in 1955 and released on the Prestige label.Bennie Green with Art Farmer'' (Prestige, 1956)
*'' Farmer's Market'' (Prestige, 1956)
*''
Three Trumpets
''Three Trumpets'' is an album by the Prestige All Stars nominally led by trumpeters Art Farmer, Donald Byrd and Idrees Sulieman, recorded in 1957 and released on the New Jazz label.Donald Byrd
Donaldson Toussaint L'Ouverture Byrd II (December 9, 1932 – February 4, 2013) was an American jazz and rhythm & blues trumpeter and vocalist. A sideman for many other jazz musicians of his generation, Byrd was one of the few hard bop m ...
and
Idrees Sulieman
Idrees Sulieman (August 7, 1923 – July 23, 2002) was an American bebop, bop and hard bop trumpeter.
Biography
He was born Leonard Graham in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States, later changing his name to Idrees Sulieman, after converting ...
Portrait of Art Farmer
''Portrait of Art Farmer'' is an album by trumpeter Art Farmer featuring performances recorded in 1958 and released on the Contemporary label.
Tracks 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 were recorded on April 19, 1958, the remainder on May 1, 1958.
"Back in the C ...
'' (Contemporary, 1958)
*''
Modern Art
Modern art includes artistic work produced during the period extending roughly from the 1860s to the 1970s, and denotes the styles and philosophies of the art produced during that era. The term is usually associated with art in which the tradi ...
'' (United Artists, 1958)
*''
The Aztec Suite
''The Aztec Suite'' is an album by trumpeter Art Farmer featuring performances arranged by Chico O'Farrill recorded in 1959 and originally released on the United Artists label.
'' (United Artists, 1959)
* '' Meet the Jazztet'' (Argo, 1960) - with
Benny Golson
Benny Golson (born January 25, 1929) is an American bebop/ hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He came to prominence with the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie, more as a writer than a performer, before launc ...
With
Curtis Fuller
Curtis DuBois Fuller (December 15, 1932May 8, 2021) was an American jazz Trombone, trombonist. He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and contributed to many classic jazz recordings.
Early life
Fuller was born in Detroit on December ...
and
Hampton Hawes
Hampton Barnett Hawes Jr. (November 13, 1928 – May 22, 1977) was an American jazz pianist. He was the author of the memoir ''Raise Up Off Me'', which won the Deems-Taylor Award for music writing in 1975.
Early life
Hampton Hawes was born on ...
*''
Curtis Fuller and Hampton Hawes with French Horns
''Curtis Fuller and Hampton Hawes with French Horns'' is an album by trombonist Curtis Fuller with pianist Hampton Hawes recorded in 1957 and originally released as one-half of a 16rpm record ''Baritones and French Horns'' but later re-released on ...
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz (February 2, 1927 – June 6, 1991) was an American jazz saxophonist. Playing primarily the tenor saxophone, Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, with his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre o ...
*''
The Soft Swing
''The Soft Swing'' is an album by saxophonist Stan Getz and recorded in 1957 and first released on the Verve label.Teo Macero
Attilio Joseph "Teo" Macero (October 30, 1925 – February 19, 2008) was an American jazz saxophonist, composer, and record producer. He was a producer at Columbia Records for twenty years. Macero produced Miles Davis' '' Bitches Brew'', and ...
*'' Teo'' (Prestige, 1957) - with the Prestige Jazz Quartet
With Sahib Shihab
*''
The Jazz We Heard Last Summer
''The Jazz We Heard Last Summer'' is a split album featuring saxophonist Sahib Shihab and flautist Herbie Mann's groups recorded in 1957 for the Savoy label.
'' (Savoy, 1957)
With
Mal Waldron
Malcolm Earl "Mal" Waldron (August 16, 1925 – December 2, 2002) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He started playing professionally in New York in 1950, after graduating from college. In the following dozen years or so Wa ...
Sonny Criss
William "Sonny" Criss (23 October 1927 – 19 November 1977) was an American jazz musician.
An alto saxophonist of prominence during the bebop era of jazz, he was one of many players influenced by Charlie Parker.
Biography
William Criss w ...
Allmusic
AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the dat ...