Dicky Wells
One of the more adventurous trombonists of the swing era, the distinctive Dicky Wells was somewhat innovative, playing his horn in a speech-like style filled with a great deal of color, humor, and swing. Although he came to fame with Count Basie in 1938, Wells had been a major-league player for a decade before that. After moving to New York in 1926, he recorded with Cecil Scott (to hilarious effect on "In a Corner") and Spike Hughes, in addition to working with Fletcher Henderson, Benny Carter, and Teddy Hill; during a European tour with Hill he recorded extensively. The Basie years (1938-1945 and 1947-1950) gave him some fame and his playing behind singer Jimmy Rushing was particularly memorable. His later years were somewhat anti-climatic but there were engagements with Rushing, reunions with Basie sidemen, European tours with Buck Clayton, a stint (1961-1963) with Ray Charles, and occasional appearances (including on the classic TV special The Sound of Jazz in 1957). After about 1965, Wells' alcoholism and declining musicianship forced him to get a day job as a messenger, although he did write his memoirs (The Night People) and he came back for a final album in 1981.
© Scott Yanow /TiVo
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Discography
17 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Bones for the King
Jazz - Released by The Digital Gramophone on 1 Sep 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Chatter Jazz: The Talkative Horns of Rex Stewart and Dickie Wells (Stereo)
Jazz - Released by The Digital Gramophone on 15 Nov 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Stanley Dance Sessions
Jazz - Released by Ascension Records on 29 May 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
In Paris
Progressive Rock - Released by Charly Records on 1 Jan 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Swingin In Paris
Progressive Rock - Released by Charly Records on 1 Jan 2022
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Swing Time: Dicky Wells - Mildred Bailey - Timme Rosenkrantz
Dicky Wells, Mildred Bailey, Timme Rosenkrantz
Jazz - Released by Bella Musica Edition on 7 Aug 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Found a New Baby (Swing Session Paris 1937)
Teddy Weatherford, Dicky Wells & His Orchestra, Dicky Wells
Pop - Released by Jazz Time Paris on 30 Apr 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bones For The King (Original)
Jazz - Released by Music Manager on 1 Jan 2010
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Funny Time
Charlie Shavers, Dicky Wells, Sam Donahue
Jazz - Released by nagel heyer records on 6 Aug 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
1927-1943 (HD Remastered)
Vocal Jazz - Released by Reborn recordings on 1 Apr 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Trombone Four in Hand
Jazz - Released by Marmot Music on 31 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bones for the King / Hello Smack (All Tracks Remastered)
Jazz - Released by Hit Singles Records on 18 Nov 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Bones for the King
Jazz - Released by Marmot Music on 31 Oct 2013
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Blue Moon (All Tracks Remastered, Ep)
Jazz - Released by Hit Singles Records on 8 Apr 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo