June Christy

June Christy was born Shirley Luster on November 20, 1925 in Springfield, Illinois. After high school she moved to Chicago, changed her name to Shirley Leslie, and sang with the Boyd Raeburn band.

In 1945, after Anita O'Day had left the Stan Kenton Orchestra, she auditioned and was chosen as the vocalist. During this time she changed her name again to June Christy. She had a million selling hit called "Tampico" with the Kenton Band.

From 1947 she started working on her own records, primarily with arranger and bandleader Pete Rugolo. In 1954 she released "Something Cool" which helped launch the cool movement of the 1950's. She married multi-instrumentalist Bob Cooper and in 1954 gave birth to a daughter.

In the 1950's and 1960's June appeared on numerous television programs and embarked on dozens of concert tours. In 1972 she sang at the Newport Jazz Festival, reuniting with the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Her final album "Impromptu" was recorded in 1977 and her final public performance was in 1988.

June Christy died at her home in Sherman Oaks, California on June 21, 1990 from kidney failure.  Her remains were cremated and scattered off the coast of Marina Del Rey.

Earlier this afternoon I listened to "The Best of June Christy: The Jazz Sessions." This 1996 Capitol release is an excellent compilation for those who want to sample June's singing throughout her career.

The album has 18 tracks which include "Something Cool," "I Want to be Happy," "My Ship," "Daydream," "Baby All The Time," "Midnight Sun," "Get Happy," "When Sunny Gets Blue," "Make Someone Happy," and "How High the Moon," among others.



Here's a video of June sing "Something Cool."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=4GkUM4jE-ZE

Wes Montgomery

Wes Montgomery was born John Leslie Montgomery on March 6, 1923 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He started learning the six string guitar at the age of 20 and although he was not skilled at reading music, he could learn melodies and riffs by ear.

Montgomery toured with Lionel Hampton from July 1948 to January 1950, but the stress of touring and being away from his family brought him back home to Indianapolis. He worked in a factory by day to support his family of eight and performed in local clubs at night. Cannonball Adderley heard Wes at one of these clubs and called Orrin Keepnews who signed him to a contract with Riverside Records. He remained there until late 1963.

The recordings made during this perid are considered to be Montgomery's best and most influential. Two sessions in January 1960 yielded "The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery." This album earned him Down Beat magazine's "New Star" award in 1960. In addition, he won the Down Beat Critic's Poll award for Best Jazz Guitarist in 1960, '61, '62, '63, '66, and 1967. He was nominated for numerous Grammy's and won a Grammy for his album "Goin' Out Of My Head" in 1966.

Wes didn't have long to enjoy his commercial success. On June 15, 1968, at the age of 45, he died of a heart attack at his home in Indianapolis.

"The Incredible Jazz Guitar of Wes Montgomery" is the album which started it all for Wes Montgomery. He is backed up by a rhythm section of Tommy Flanigan on piano, Percy Heath on bass, and Albert Heath on drums.

The tunes include "Airegin," "D-Natural Blues," "Polka Dots and Moonbeams," "Four On Six," "West Coast Blues," "In Your Own Sweet Way," "Mr. Walker," and "Gone With the Wind."




Here's a video of Wes playing "Round Midnight."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOm17yw__6U&feature=player_detailpage

Woody Herman

Woody Herman was born Woodrow Charles Thomas Herman on May 16, 1913 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. As a child he worked as a singer in Vaudeville and at the age of fifteen he was playing saxophone as a professional. He performed with the Tom Gerun Band, Harry Sosnick Band, Gus Arnheim Band, and Isham Jones. When Jones retired to live off royalties, Woody took over his band.

Herman's first recording was "Wintertime Blues" on November 6, 1936 for the Decca label. His first hit was "Woodchoppers Ball" in 1939.

In February 1945, the band signed with Columbia Records. This was the time of the "First Herd." On February 26, 1945  the band recorded "Caldonia." In 1946, the band won the Downbeat, Metronome, Billboard, and Esquire polls for best band. After this Woody disbanded his band to spend more time with his wife and family.

In 1947, Herman formed the "Second Herd," which was also known as the "Four Brothers Band." On December 27, 1947 the band recorded "Four Brothers" written by Jimmy Giuffre. the four brothers were Zoot Sims, Herbie Stewart, and Stan Getz on tenor saxophones, and Serge Chaloff on baritone sax.

Herman's other bands include the "Third Herd" from 1950-1956 and the "New Thundering Herd" from 1959-1987. He continued to perform into the 1980's despite the death of his wife and his own declining health.He was awarded the Grammy for Lifetime Achievement in 1987.

Woody Herman died on October 29, 1987 in West Hollywood, California.

I just finished listening to one of my favorite live Herman recordings. It is "Big New Herd at the Monterey Jazz Festival." Woody leads an all-star band at this 1959 festival. The line-up includes Woody on clarinet; Zoot Sims, Don Lanphere, Bill Perkins, and Richie Kamuca on tenor saxes; Med Flory on baritone sax; Al Porcino, Conte Candoli, Bill Chase, and Ray Linn on tumpets; Urbie Green and Si Zentner on trombones; Victor Feldman on piano and vibes; Charlie Byrd on guitar; Monty Budwig on bass; and Mel Lewis on drums.

The tunes include "Four Brothers," "Like Some Blues Man," "Skoobeedoobee," "Monterey Apple Tree," "Skylark," and "The Magpie."



Here's a video of Woody and his band playing "Four Brothers."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUhnGNHQEFA&feature=player_detailpage