Charles "Chuck" A. Hedges (July 21, 1932 – June 24, 2010) 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. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...

clarinetist.

Early life and education

Hedges was born in

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

. He began playing clarinet while attending a military school. He received formal training under Claude Bordy and learned to play jazz on his own. He attended

Northwestern University Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

Career

Hedges joined George Brunis's ensemble in 1953, remaining with Brunis through the end of the decade. He was active on the Dixieland revival scene in the 1960s, playing regularly at clubs in Chicago and Milwaukee into the 1990s. He worked with

Wild Bill Davison William Edward Davison (January 5, 1906 – November 14, 1989), nicknamed "Wild Bill", was an American jazz cornetist. He emerged in the 1920s through his work playing alongside Muggsy Spanier and Frank Teschemacher in a cover band where they ...

for most of the 1980s and also worked with Alan Vaché and Johnny Varro. He released several albums as a leader in the 1990s and 2000s.

Personal life

Hedges died in

Waukesha, Wisconsin Waukesha ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 71,158 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along the Fox River (Illinois River tributary), Fox River adjacent to th ...

, in 2010. Hedges had six children.

Discography

* Bob Hirsch, Tommy Saunders, Chuck Hedges, Sid Dawson, Chuck Anderson, Steve Thede: ''Bob Hirsch and His Jazz All-Stars at briarcombe: A Jazz Picnic'' (1976) * Chuck Hedges, Johnny Varro, Ray Leatherwood,

Gene Estes The Wrecking Crew, also known as the Clique and the First Call Gang, was a loose collective of American session musicians based in Los Angeles who played on many studio recordings in the 1960s and 1970s, including hundreds of top 40 hits. The ...

: ''The Square Roots of Jazz'' (1984) *''No Greater Love'' ( Arbors, 1992), with

Eddie Higgins Edward Haydn Higgins (February 21, 1932 – August 31, 2009) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and orchestrator. His performance and composition in 1959's " Cry of Jazz" is preserved in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry. Bi ...

Bob Haggart Robert Sherwood Haggart (March 13, 1914 – December 2, 1998) was an American dixieland jazz double bass player, composer, and arranger. Although he is associated with dixieland, he was one of the finest rhythm bassists of the Swing Era. Music ...

, Gene Estes * ''Live at Andy's'' ( Delmark, 1993), with Duane Thamm, John Bany, Dave Baney, Charles Braugham * Chuck Hedges and Allan Vaché: ''Clarinet Climax'' (

Jazzology Records Jazzology Records is an American jazz record company and label. It is part of the Jazzology group of labels owned and operated by the George H. Buck Jr. Jazz Foundation. Jazzology Records was founded in 1949 by George H. Buck, Jr. That year h ...

, 1998), with Howard Elkins, Jack Wyatt, Jim Vaughn, John Sheridan *''Just Jammin': Chuck Hedges and the Milwaukee Connection'' (Arbors, 2001), with Henry "Bucky" Buckwalter, Gary Meisner, Dave Sullivan, Mike Britz, Andy LoDuca * Chuck Hedges and Duane Thamm: ''Tribute to Hamp'' (Delmark, 2002), with Frank Dawson, John Bany, Charlie Braugham

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hedges, Chuck American jazz clarinetists Jazz musicians from Chicago 1932 births 2010 deaths Arbors Records artists Jazzology Records artists Northwestern University alumni