Dick Wilson (musician)

Dick Wilson with guitarist Floyd Smith , Howard Theater, Washington, DC, before 1942.
Photograph by William P. Gottlieb .

Richard "Dick" Wilson (* 11. November 1911 in Vernon , Illinois ; † 24. November 1941 in New York ) was an American jazz - tenor saxophonist of Swing . He became famous for his play in the band Twelve Clouds of Joy by Andy Kirk .

life and work

Wilson had lessons from Joe Darensbourg and first played in local groups in Vernon and Portland, then worked on the West Coast and in Denver , for example with Eugene Coy and Zach Whyte . From 1936 until his untimely death he played in the formation Twelve Clouds of Joy of the band leader Andy Kirk and was one of the most outstanding soloists of this swing band. He excelled in recordings such as Steppin 'Pretty, Christopher Columbus, Froggy Bottom, Lotta Sax Appeal, Bearcat Shuffle and Walkin' and Swingin ', In the Groove, Wednesday Night Hop (all from 1937) and The Count and Twelfth Street Rag ( 1940). Wilson was also involved in recordings of pianist Mary Lou Williams in 1940 ( Harmony Blues and Zonky ).

Wilson's style of playing is based on Herschel Evans and Chu Berry ; he will be remembered especially with the legendary jam sessions, the "Cutting Contests" in the golden era of Kansas City jazz , in which he competed with saxophonists such as Lester Young , Herschel Evans , Ben Webster , Buster Smith and most recently Charlie Parker stood.

Discography

• Andy Kirk: 1936–1937, 1937–1938 (Classics)
• Mary Lou Williams: 1927-1940 (Classics)

literature

• Martin Kunzler : Jazz-Lexikon , Reinbek, Rowohlt 1988.
• Richard Cook , Brian Morton : The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD . 6th edition. Penguin, London 2002, ISBN 0-14-051521-6 .
• Bielefeld Jazz Catalog, 2001.