Willie Dennis

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Willie Dennis (* 10. January 1926 in Philadelphia as William De Berardinis , † 8. July 1965 in New York ) was an American jazz - trombone . His unorthodox, melodically complicated way of playing gave him an important role in various Charles Mingus bands.

Live and act

Willie Dennis was self-taught . He belonged to the circles around Lennie Tristano . Dennis played in several big bands , e.g. B. Elliot Lawrence , Claude Thornhill , Benny Goodman and Woody Herman . He toured Europe with the Goodman Band in 1948 and worked with Buddy Rich in 1949 . Since 1953 he has worked repeatedly with Charles Mingus and the Jazz Composers Workshop ; This is how the record Four Trombones came about on the debut label of Mingus and Max Roach , on which trombonists JJ Johnson , Kai Winding and Bennie Green also participated. With Mingus he also played the records Blues and Roots (1959) and Mingus Ah Um . He also took part in his Town Hall Concert (1962). He was with Goodman at the World Exhibition in Brussels in 1958 and toured the Soviet Union in 1962 . In the early 1960s he was a member of the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band .

Discographic notes

literature

personal data
SURNAME Dennis, Willie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES De Berardinis, William (maiden name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz trombonist
DATE OF BIRTH January 10, 1926
PLACE OF BIRTH Philadelphia
DATE OF DEATH July 8, 1965
Place of death New York City