Jimmy Davidson

Jimmy (Trump) Davidson ( James Douglas Davidson ; born November 26, 1908 in Greater Sudbury ; † May 2, 1978 in Greater Sudbury) was a Canadian jazz musician ( cornet , vocals) and orchestra conductor, known as Canada's "Mr. Dixieland ”became known.

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Davidson played the trumpet in the Canadian Legion Band at the age of twelve and founded the Melody Five, one of Canada's earliest jazz bands. From 1929 to 1936 he was a member of Luigi Romanelli's band, first as a singer, later as a cornet player, arranger and occasionally baritone saxophonist . For a short time in 1935 he also played in Rex Battle's dance band.

For the Club Esquire in Toronto he founded a twelve-piece band in 1936, which also appeared on the radio and toured England in 1938 under the name Ray Noble Orchestra . After a year in Horace Lapps' orchestra, he founded a big band that specialized in Dixieland and from 1944 to 1961 at the Palace Pier in Toronto as well as various broadcasts on the CBC ( Jazz Unlimited , Trans-Canada Matinee , Trump Davidson's Dixieland , Dixieland Concert and Dixieland Downbeat ) occurred. In addition to his brother Teddy Davidson (tenor saxophone), they included Howard "Cokie" Campbell (clarinet), Murray Ginsberg (trombone), Reef McGarvey (drums) and Harvey Silver (piano).

In 1976 Davidson founded a new big band, with which he only appeared as a singer. The trumpet parts are usually played by trumpeter Paul Grozny . The band continued after his death under the direction of Harvey Silver . His estate is in the possession of the National Library of Canada . Davidson was married to the violinist Erica Zentner ; her daughter Sarah Davidson became known as a harpist.

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• Jimmy Davidson ( English, French ) In: Encyclopedia of Music in Canada . published by The Canadian Encyclopedia .
• South Side Story: Jimmy “Trump” Davidson was one of Canada's First Jazz Musicians
• Jimmy Davidson at Allmusic (English)