Wilbur Campbell

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wilbur Campbell (born July 30, 1926 in Chicago ; † December 30, 1999 there ) was an American jazz musician ( drums ) who was active in the music scene in Chicago; the musicians there called him the chief ; Jack DeJohnette referred to him as his mentor.

Live and act

Campbell attended DuSable High School on Chicago's South Side, taking lessons from Walter Dyett . He played the piano, vibraphone, and drums before settling on the latter instrument after working with Milt Jackson for three days . At the age of 15 he made his first professional appearance in a formation called Baby Band ; Two years later followed a first mention in Downbeat , where he was a Young Lionwas designated. From 1945 to 1947 he did his military service in the Navy. After living in New York for a while, he returned to his hometown; In 1948 he married the jewelry designer Osceola Simmons. In the early years of his musical career he played a. a. with guest jazz greats in Chicago such as Lester Young , Charlie Parker , Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk . His main occupation was an addiction counselor; as a musician he performed in the Chicago area at night and on weekends.

Campbell played in the mid-1950s in the trio and combo of Andrew Hill , with which the first recordings for the local label Ping Records were made. In the late 1950s he worked with Wilbur Ware (The Chicago Sound) and the Ira Sullivan Quintet (with Jodie Christian, among others ). In the following decade he was only involved in one session with John Klemmer for Cadet Records; In 1970 he appeared in Chicago with Gene Ammons and Dexter Gordon , with Dexter Gordon's Quartet on a television show. In the 70s he played a. a. with Muhal Richard Abrams (Things to Come from Those Now Gone) , Sonny Stitt , E. Parker McDougal , Von Freeman , Art Pepper and Ira Sullivan, in the following two decades also with Pete Candoli and Willie Pickens . Recent recordings were made in 1993 when he became a member of Jodie Christian Trio with Eddie de Haas was (Blues Holiday) , further including Louis Smith (silvering) . In the field of jazz he was involved in 34 recording sessions from 1956 to 1993.

Campbell served in a number of roles at the Jazz Institute of Chicago , including director, vice chairman, and program committee member for the Jazz Express and Chicago Jazz Festival events . He died of liver failure in late 1999. His estate is kept in the Library of the University of Chicago .

Jack DeJohnette praised Campbell's game; it was “good, solid and soulful swinging that could be precise and sloppy at the same time ” (good, solid, soulful swinging that could be precise and sloppy at the same time) ; Chicago bassist Larry Gray saw him ranks among the leading drum innovators of the post-war era.

Discographic notes

literature

  • Larry Kart Jazz in Search of Itself Yale University Press 2004

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Obituary for Wilbur Campbell by Howard Reich in the Chicago Tribune.
  2. ↑ a b Guide to the Wilbur and Valarie Campbell Collection 1958-2004 .
  3. ↑ Tom Lord: Jazz Discography (online).
  4. ^ Reprint of a longer interview with Cambell from 1969.
personal data
SURNAME Campbell, Wilbur
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician (drums)
DATE OF BIRTH July 30, 1926
PLACE OF BIRTH Chicago
DATE OF DEATH December 30, 1999
Place of death Chicago