Roy Eldridge
One of the most exciting trumpeters to emerge during the swing era, Roy Eldridge's combative approach, chance-taking style and strong musicianship were an inspiration (and an influence) to the next musical generation, most notably Dizzy Gillespie. Although he sometimes pushed himself farther than he could go, Eldridge never played a dull solo.
Roy Eldridge started out playing trumpet and drums in carnival and circus bands. With the Nighthawk Syncopators he received a bit of attention by playing a note-for-note re-creation of Coleman Hawkins' tenor solo on "The Stampede." Inspired by the dynamic playing of Jabbo Smith (Eldridge would not discover Louis Armstrong for a few years), Eldridge played with some territory bands including Zack Whyte and Speed Webb and in New York (where he arrive in 1931) he worked with Elmer Snowden (who nicknamed him "Little Jazz"), McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and most importantly Teddy Hill (1935). Eldridge's recorded solos with Hill, backing Billie Holiday and with Fletcher Henderson (including his 1936 hit "Christopher Columbus") gained a great deal of attention. In 1937 he appeared with his octet (which included brother Joe on alto) at the Three Deuces Club in Chicago and recorded some outstanding selections as a leader including "Heckler's Hop" and "Wabash Stomp." By 1939 Eldridge had a larger group playing at the Arcadia Ballroom in New York. With the decline of Bunny Berigan and the increasing predictability of Louis Armstrong, Eldridge was arguably the top trumpeter in jazz during this era.
During 1941-1942 Eldridge sparked Gene Krupa's Orchestra, recording classic versions of "Rockin' Chair" and "After You've Gone" and interacting with Anita O'Day on "Let Me Off Uptown." The difficulties of traveling with a White band during a racist period hurt him, as did some of the incidents that occurred during his stay with Artie Shaw (1944-1945) but the music during both stints was quite memorable. Eldridge can be seen in several "soundies" (short promotional film devoted to single songs) of this era by the Krupa band, often in association with O'Day, including "Let Me Off Uptown" and "Thanks for the Boogie Ride." He is also very prominent in the band's appearance in Howard Hawks' Ball of Fire, in an extended performance of "Drum Boogie" mimed by Barbara Stanwyck, taking a long trumpet solo -- the clip was filmed soon after Eldridge joined the band in late April of 1941, and "Drum Boogie" was a song that Eldridge co-wrote with Krupa.
Eldridge had a short-lived big band of his own, toured with Jazz at the Philharmonic, and then had a bit of an identity crisis when he realized that his playing was not as modern as the beboppers. A successful stay in France during 1950-1951 restored his confidence when he realized that being original was more important than being up-to-date. Eldridge recorded steadily for Norman Granz in the '50s, was one of the stars of JATP (where he battled Charlie Shavers and Dizzy Gillespie), and by 1956, was often teamed with Coleman Hawkins in a quintet; their 1957 appearance at Newport was quite memorable. The '60s were tougher as recording opportunities and work became rarer. Eldridge had brief and unhappy stints with Count Basie's Orchestra and Ella Fitzgerald (feeling unnecessary in both contexts) but was leading his own group by the end of the decade. He spent much of the '70s playing regularly at Ryan's and recording for Pablo and, although his range had shrunk a bit, Eldridge's competitive spirit was still very much intact. Only a serious stroke in 1980 was able to halt his horn. Roy Eldridge recorded throughout his career for virtually every label.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
Similar artists
-
-
Roy Eldridge Vol. 3 (1945-46)
Jazz - Released by Documents on 1 sep. 2009
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Verve Collection
Jazz - Released by ENLIGHTENMENT on 28 apr. 2017
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Heat's On
Roy Eldridge, Howard McGhee, Howard McGhee's Be-Boppers
Jazz - Released by Esquire Records on 14 dec. 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Spanky & Roy - Passing the Torch (Live)
Jazz - Released by Baseline Jazz on 12 mei 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Roy Eldridge Little Jazz
Jazz - Released by Saar srl on 2 dec. 2006
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Swing Of Things
Jazz - Released by Werner Last's Favourites Swing on 1 jan. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Classic Years
Jazz - Released by Sleeping Giant Music on 27 feb. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Little Jazz (Album of 1962)
Pop - Released by Jazz Time Paris on 31 aug. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
When I Grow Too Old To Dream
Jazz - Released by Vanilla OMP on 30 nov. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Jazz Side Story (A Timeless Jazz Recordings)
Jazz - Released by Jazz Side Story on 3 sep. 2014
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Swing Time - The Encyclopedia of Jazz, Vol. 16
Jazz - Released by Documents on 9 jan. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Swing Time - The Encyclopedia of Jazz, Vol. 13
Jazz - Released by Documents on 9 jan. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Roy Eldridge Selected Favorites, Vol. 3
Jazz - Released by Charly Records on 21 mrt. 2011
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Great English Concert
Stan Getz, Roy Eldridge, Coleman Hawkins
Jazz - Released by CoolNote on 1 jan. 2000
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Roy Eldridge Collection 1935-45
Jazz - Released by ACROBAT on 15 aug. 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Complete Jazz Series 1951
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 22 dec. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
-
Complete Jazz Series 1950 - 1951
Jazz - Released by Complete Jazz Series on 22 dec. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Twilight Time
Jazz - Released by Beach View Records on 9 dec. 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo