Lem Winchester

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Lem Winchester (* 19th March 1928 in Philadelphia ; † 13. January 1961 in Indianapolis ) was an American jazz - vibraphonist and composer .

Live and act

Lem Winchester's short career was overshadowed by drug problems throughout his life. He first played tenor and baritone saxophone and piano before switching to the vibraphone. He worked as a police officer in Wilmington, Delaware . In August 1957, Winchester took part in a session of drummer John Chowning, which was not published, but whose tapes were perceived by Leonard Feather . He then presented it at the Newport Jazz Festival in June 1958. There he played with Ray Santisi  (p), John Neves (b), Jimmy Zitano (d) the jazz standards " Now's the Time ", "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and Billy Strayhorn's " Take the A Train ".

On October 8, 1958, the first recording session took place at Chess Studios in Chicago . For the small label Argo Records , Lem Winchester took on as a conductor with the pianist Ramsey Lewis , the bassist Eldee Young and the drummer "Red" Holt. Titles such as “Jordu” by Duke Jordan , “Once In A While”, “ It Could Happen to You ”, “Easy To Love” and “Joy Spring” by Clifford Brown , to whom the album was dedicated ( A Tribute To Clifford Brown ).

Almost a year later, Winchester had another opportunity to record under his own name; on September 25, 1959 he played for Prestige Records at the Rudy Van Gelder Studio in Englewood Cliffs . The album Winchester Special was then released on the prestige sub-label New Jazz Records . Contributing musicians were the saxophonist Benny Golson , the pianist Tommy Flanagan , the bassist Wendell Marshall and the drummer Art Taylor . Winchester's composition "Down Fuzz" was released as a 45 single.

Together with Richard Wyands , George Duvivier and Roy Haynes, Winchester worked on Oliver Nelson's album Taking Care of Business in March 1960 . Another album followed in April 1960 ( Lem Beat ) with Oliver Nelson, this time under his own name, on which alto saxophonist Curtis Peagler , pianist Roy Johnson and again Marshall and Taylor participated in the rhythm section . In June he played in the quartet of soul jazz organist Shirley Scott with George Duvivier and drummer Arthur Edgehill ( Soul Sister ). In July 1960 he was a member of Jack McDuff's Quartet with Jimmy Forrest ( Tough 'Duff , Prestige); this summer Winchester performed together with Toots Thielemans , Sandy Mosse , Junior Mance , Nick Fiore and JC Heard u. a. at the Jazz Festival in Birmingham, Missouri . Between June and October the recordings for Wichester's third album Another Opus were made , on which this time the flautist Frank Wess , pianist Hank Jones , the organist Johnny Hammond Smith , and the guitarist Eddie McFadden participated; the rhythm section was formed by bassists Eddie Jones , Wendell Marshall and drummers Bill Erskine and Gus Johnson . This time Winchester's own compositions such as the title track “Another Opus”, “Both Barrels” and “Blues Prayer” could be heard. In August he went back to the studio with Oliver Nelson ( Nocturne ); in September he accompanied the singer Etta Jones ( Something Nice ).

For his last album With Feeling , which was created on October 7th with Wyands, Duvivier and Taylor, Oliver Nelson provided him with arrangements; standards like “Skylark” or “But Beautiful” could be heard. The LP was released on Prestige's sub-label Moodsville . A week later, on October 14th, he was still sideman at Johnny Hammond Smith's prestige session ( Gettin 'The Message ); these were his last recordings.

Winchester left the police service in 1960 to devote himself entirely to music. He died on January 13, 1961 while attempting to perform a gun trick.

meaning

According to authors Richard Cook and Brian Morton, the death of Lem Winchester in January 1961 was a great loss for the jazz scene at the time; From today's perspective, he looks more like a minor talent. The sound ideal of Lem Winchester, who died in 1961, was followed by musicians such as Gary Burton , Tom van der Geld and Bobby Hutcherson .

According to Scott Yanow in the All Music Guide , Winchester had great potential as a vibraphonist, but was unable to develop it further because of his tragic accidental death. He was mainly influenced by Milt Jackson , but developed his own sound image.

Discographic notes

Albums under your own name

  • Lem Winchester and the The Ramsey Lewis Trio Perform A Tribute To Clifford Brown (Argo, later as Verve / Universal, 1958)
  • Winchester Special (New Jazz Records / OJC, 1959)
  • Lem Beat (New Jazz Records / OJC, 1960)
  • Another Opus (New Jazz Records / OJC, 1960)
  • With Feeling (Moodville / Prestige, OJC, 1960)

Albums as a sideman

  • Etta Jones: Something Nice (OJC, 1960); Hollar! (OJC, 1960-62)
  • Brother Jack McDuff: Tough 'Duff (OJC, 1960)
  • Oliver Nelson: Nocturne (OJC, 1960); Taking Care of Business (OJC, 1960)
  • Shirley Scott: Legend of Acid Jazz - Soul Sister (Prestige / OJC 1960-64),
  • Johnny Hammond Smith: Talk that Talk (Prestige Records, 1960)

literature

Web links

References and comments

  1. ↑ The LP was only sold in limited editions by Wittenberg College; later it appeared on the Chicago label Delmark (DL 405), but was never re-released. See Jazzdisco.org.
  2. ↑ The LP was also released as Prestige LP 12 ": PR 7784 under the title Love Is The Thing ; cf. jazzdisco, org.
  3. ^ Information according to Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
personal data
SURNAME Winchester, Lem
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz vibraphone player and composer
DATE OF BIRTH March 19, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH Philadelphia
DATE OF DEATH January 13, 1961
Place of death Indianapolis