Irving Ashby

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Irving Ashby (born December 29, 1920 in Somerville , Massachusetts, † April 22, 1987 in Perris , California ) was an American jazz guitarist .

Live and act

Ashby played the ukulele at the age of 7 and guitar from the age of 9. After studying for two years at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston , he played with Lionel Hampton from 1940 to 1942 . In 1943 he worked in Fats Waller's orchestra on the recordings for the film The Dancer on the Steps (Stormy Weather) . After his discharge from military service in 1946, Ashby worked with Eddie Beal , Lester Young and Phil Moore in 1946, with Benny Carter in 1947, again with Moore, then from 1947 to 1951 with the Nat King Cole Trio and Quartet, the Gerry Wiggins Trio in 1951 and 1952 with Oscar Peterson's trio (“ Willow Weep for Me ”), with whom he went on the first Jazz at the Philharmonic European tour.

Irving Ashby, who was influenced by Charlie Christian and Barney Kessel , cultivated a style of playing that was strongly influenced by bebop and was one of the most important jazz guitarists in the second half of the 1940s. He made records with Juan Tizol , Jimmy Mundy , Charles Mingus , André Previn in 1946, the band Just Jazz , the Hollywood Hucksters and Nellie Lutcher in 1947. In addition to the above, he worked with jazz greats such as Count Basie , Erroll Garner and Illinois Jacquet . He also played in Arvin Garrison's guitar quintet (with Barney Kessel) in the 1940s .

After 1952 Ashby was mainly active as a music teacher or freelance in Los Angeles, where he was in demand in the film studios. He can also be heard on many rhythm and blues and some rock 'n' roll records as a studio musician. He has recorded with Big Joe Turner , Larry Williams , Sheb Wooley , LaVern Baker , BB King , Pat Boone , Pérez Prado , Louis Jordan , Meade Lux Lewis and Helen Humes , among others . He has taught privately, in high schools, and at the University of California at Riverside. As a guitar teacher, he also published a guitar lesson book .

Selection discography

literature

Web links