Don Fagerquist

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Donald "Don" A. Fagerquist (born February 6, 1927 in Worcester , Massachusetts , † January 24, 1974 in Los Angeles ) was a jazz trumpeter of swing and West Coast jazz .

Live and act

Don Fagerquist played in the small formations of West Coast Jazz , but also in big bands and later as a studio musician, where he was a sought-after soloist in many recording sessions, such as Mal Hallett (1943), Gene Krupa (1944–1950), Artie Shaw (1949-1950), Artie Shaws Gramercy Five (1949-1950), Woody Herman (1951-1952), Les Brown (1953) and the Dave Pell Octet (1953-1959).

From 1956 Fagerquist worked as a studio musician in Hollywood, but also made recordings with Bob Cooper , Shelly Manne , Shorty Rogers and Red Norvo . With the orchestras of Nelson Riddle , Paul Weston , Marty Paich and Billy May , he accompanied Ella Fitzgerald on several albums in her Songbook series.

Despite his skills as a lyrically gifted soloist, he only had two opportunities for his own productions as a leader: a session for Capitol Records in 1955 (reissued as part of the Dave Pell Octet CD I Had the Craziest Dream ) and an album for the jazz label Mode in 1957 ( Music to Fill a Void ).

From 1956 Fagerquist worked as a musician for Paramount Films , but still occasionally recorded records with Shelly Manne , Mel Tormé and Art Pepper .

In the 1960s there were other jazz productions with Fagerquist. His solos can be heard on albums by Pete Rugolo , Frank Comstock , Nelson Riddle , Billy May , Paul Weston , Si Zentner and others.

In 1966 Fagerquist ended his active music career for health reasons. He died at his home in California in 1974.

Selection discography

  • Benny Carter: All Of Me (Bluebird, 1934-47)
  • Bob Cooper: Coop (OJC, 1957)
  • Ella Fitzgerald: Ella Swings Lightly (Verve, 1958)
  • Gene Krupa: Gene Krupa / Lionel Hampton (Forlane, 1949)
  • Dave Pell Octet: Plays Irving Berlin (Fresh Sound, 1953), Plays Burke And Van Heusen (Fresh Sound, 1953), I Had The Craziest Dream (Fresh Sound, 1955), Jazz Goes Dancing (Fresh Sound, 1956)
  • Art Pepper: The Artistry Of Art Pepper (Pacific jazz, 1956-57)
  • Shorty Rogers: Shorty Rogers Swings (RCA, 1958-59)

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personal data
SURNAME Fagerquist, Don
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Fagerquist, Donald A .; Fagerquist, Don A. (nickname)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician
DATE OF BIRTH February 6, 1927
PLACE OF BIRTH Worcester, Massachusetts
DATE OF DEATH January 24, 1974
Place of death los Angeles