Studies in Jazz
2 total works
The Red Nichols Story
by Philip R. Evans, Stanley Hester, Stephen Hester, and Linda Evans
Published 3 December 1997
Trumpeter Ernest 'Red' Nichols was an influential bandleader during the heyday of jazz in the Roaring Twenties, who nurtured the talents of such jazz luminaries as Jimmy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller. Nichols was also in constant demand as a studio musician, and, as a result, his musical output ranks him among the most prolific jazz musicians in history. This handy one-volume reference supplies jazz scholars, collectors, and fans with a complete, chronological bio-discography to all issued recordings (including compact disc) as well as unissued material, radio and television appearances, concerts, interviews, and privately owned home recordings spanning the period 1942-1965.
During those years, all sax men copied Tram. They knew all of his choruses from his recordings and when he appeared in person, they'd flock to hear him play. —From the Foreword by "Rosy" McHargue Frank was an American Music Legend. His life was brief, 1901-1956, but he left us a legacy of his phonograph records. When Jimmy Dorsey joined the Ray Miller Orchestra, he was asked to play like Tram. Lester Young carried Tram's recordings in his suitcase. "Toots" Mondello said that a sax man wasn't judged complete until he mastered Trumbauer's solo on "Singin' The Blues." Frank's daughter, Lynne, made available his private papers, diaries, letters, and interviews, resulting in a complete accounting of his life. Frank's remarks were culled from these sources and properly placed to give the readers a continual sense of Tram commenting as they turn the pages. Tram's complete story is presented: The divided love between music and aviation; his years with Paul Whiteman; his friends, Zentner, Bing, Hoagy, and Bix.