Baby Face Willette

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Roosevelt "Baby Face" Willette (born September 11, 1933 ; † April 1, 1971 ) was a hard bop and soul jazz organist ( Hammond B-3 ) and pianist.

biography

The exact origin of Willette is unclear; he was born in Little Rock , Arkansas or New Orleans . His mother was a missionary who played piano in church; his father was a preacher. His musical roots are therefore in gospel music , and he initially played as a pianist in various gospel groups. At the beginning of his musical career, he toured the United States, Canada and Cuba. In Chicago he switched from gospel and rhythm and blues to playing in jazz bands; he was a pianist in the bands of King Kolax , Joe Houston , Johnny Otis and Big Jay McNeely before finally finding his place on the organ. In 1960 he moved to New York, where he worked with Lou Donaldson and Grant Green and in January 1961 participated in their Blue Note sessions Here 'Tis (Donaldson) and Grant's First Stand (Grant). This led to Willette being signed to the label and his debut album Face to Face recorded in late January 1961 , which featured Fred Jackson , Grant Green and Ben Dixon . In May, the album Stop and Listen followed with almost the same line-up (without Jackson) , which is considered to be his best album. In 1963 he founded his own trio and in 1964 recorded two more albums for Argo . Willette then performed regularly from 1966 to 1971 in the South Side Chicago Lounge , but gradually fell into oblivion.

Discographic notes

As a band leader

  • Face to Face (Blue Note, 1961)
  • Stop and Listen (Blue Note, 1961)
  • Mo 'Rock (Argo, 1964)
  • Behind the 8 Ball (Argo, 1965)

As a sideman

  • 1961: Here 'Tis (Blue Note, BST 84066)
  • 1961: Grant's First Stand (Blue Note, BST 84064)

Remarks

  1. ↑ Blue Note released three tracks from the album as singles: Swingin 'At Sugar Ray's , Something Strange and Goin' Down, Pt. 1 & 2 . See Blue Note Records catalog-45-rpm-1800 series at Jazzdisco.org

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c https://www.allmusic.com/artist/mn0000071587
  2. ↑ a b Robert Levin, Linder Notes from Face to Face
  3. ↑ Blue Note Discography 1961 at jazzdisco.org
  4. ↑ Willette portrait at All About Jazz ( Memento from August 6, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  5. ↑ album Informatio at Musicmookreview.com
personal data
SURNAME Willette, baby face
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Willette, Roosevelt
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH September 11, 1933
DATE OF DEATH April 1, 1971