Bobby Durham (jazz musician)
Bobby Durham (* 3. February 1937 in Philadelphia , Pennsylvania; † 7. July 2008 in Genoa , Italy) was an American jazz - drummer .
Durham started out as a step dancer and singer at the age of two (his father was a tap dancer) and learned drums in high school before starting his professional drumming career at the age of sixteen as a member of The Orioles . He also worked with the pianist Oscar Peterson . From 1956 to 1959 he played in the military band of the US Marine Corps.
He then performed with King James and Stan Hunter before moving to New York in 1960. There he worked a. a. with Lloyd Price , Wild Bill Davis , Lionel Hampton (1962), Count Basie , Slide Hampton , Grant Green , Sweets Edison , Tommy Flanagan and Jimmy Rowles . He took u. a. with Dizzy Gillespie , Benny Carter , Joe Pass and Roy Eldridge . From 1966 to 1971 he was with Ray Brown in the Oscar Peterson trio. He was a member of several Al Grays combos and in 1966 Duke Ellington . Because of his restrained play he was popular as an accompanist to singers, u. a. he accompanied Frank Sinatra , James Brown , Ray Charles , Marvin Gaye and from 1973 to 1980 Ella Fitzgerald . As the leader of his own trio, he says he has played all over the world except in Alaska, Russia and Arabia.
During his stays in Europe he founded trios with Scandinavian and Italian musicians. a. Aldo Zunino , Andrea Zonzaterra and Massimo Farao were members.
He last lived in Basel and Genoa.
Discography
- Bobby Durham Trio / Gerald Price with Michel Gaudry , 1979
- Domani's Blues , 2005
- For Lovers Only , 2005
- We Three Plus Friends , 2005
- Christmas Jazz , 2006
Web links
- Discography as a sideman at Allmusic
- Obituary in NY Times
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Durham, Bobby |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American jazz drummer |
| DATE OF BIRTH | February 3, 1937 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Philadelphia |
| DATE OF DEATH | July 7, 2008 |
| Place of death | Genoa |