Lorraine Geller

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Lorraine Geller born, Lorraine Winifred Walsh (* 11. September 1928 in Portland , Oregon ; † 13. October 1958 in Los Angeles ) was an American jazz pianist of Bop .

Live and act

Geller attended Washington High School in Portland. From 1949 to 1951 she played in the all-female big band Sweethearts of Rhythm , directed by Anne Mae Winburn (a successor to the International Sweethearts of Rhythm ). In 1951 she married the alto saxophonist Herb Geller , whom she had met in New York in 1950 when he played with Claude Thornhill and she with the Sweethearts . With him she moved to Los Angeles . In 1954 she recorded with her own trio for the Dot label. She also recorded with Red Mitchell , played with Charlie Parker , Dizzy Gillespie , Stan Getz and with many West Coast musicians such as Shorty Rogers , Zoot Sims , at times as a pianist at Howard Rumsey's Lighthouse All Stars , where her husband also played. After a baby break, she accompanied Kay Starr in 1958 . In the same year she played at the first Monterey Jazz Festival .

The sudden death of the musician, who was considered a promising talent, from pneumonia at the age of only 30 came as a shock to many. Her husband Herb Geller found out about it when he was playing for Benny Goodman , who gave him a new saxophone on the occasion. After another tour with Goodman, he left the USA in 1962 and moved to Germany.

Discography (selection)

  • Lorraine Geller at the Piano , Dot

with Herb Geller:

  • The Gellers , Mercury (EmArcy) (1955, with Red Mitchell on bass and Mel Lewis on drums)
  • Herb Geller plays , Mercury (also Verve 1996, with Leroy Vinnegar Bass, Larance Marable drums)
  • The Herb Geller Sextette , Mercury (with Conte Candoli , Red Mitchell, 1955)

Otherwise:

  • Chet Baker, Miles Davis - Complete performances with Lighthouse All Stars , Jazz Factory 2004 (in recordings from September 1953 she accompanied Miles Davis as part of the All Stars )

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ See interview with Herb Geller (Jazzwax)
  2. ↑ reissued as Two of a Kind Complete Recordings 1954/5
personal data
SURNAME Geller, Lorraine
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Walsh, Lorraine Winifred (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz pianist
DATE OF BIRTH September 11, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH Portland , Oregon , USA
DATE OF DEATH October 13, 1958
Place of death los Angeles