Originally Posted by
AllanAllen
I wonder why the fist sax took 16 bars then they skipped to the third and then skipped the 4th over to Wes, after all the trumpets and bones got 8 bars.
I don’t know unless there were designated featured soloists for each tune. I found this with some information on the band.
Lionel Hampton at the Strand Theatre 1949
UPDATE (May 11, 2014): The photos turn out to have been taken by Duncan P. Schiedt.
As announced in this posting, I am finally putting up the gorgeous photographs of Lionel Hampton and his orchestra at the Strand Theatre New York in late April or early May 1949 (from the Otto Flückiger collection). I learned that these photographs are by Duncan P. Schiedt. Just the same I have put my blog’s name on them. This is not to claim copyright on them (which I naturally do not own), but to prevent them from appearing all over the net. if this turns out to be a problem I take the photos off at once.
And here’s some music to watch photographs by: Recorded on May 19, 1949 in N.Y.C. for Decca Records here is nearly the same band as on the photos playing “The Hucklebuck”. Vocals are by Betty Carter.
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First up is a photo of the full band:
Too see, who is who, you can open above photo in a new browser window and compare with the reference photograph below
1. Frances Gaddison, 2. Roy Johnson, 3. Billy Willams, 4. Johnny Sparrow,
5. Wes Montgomery, 6. Lionel Hampton, 7. Johnny Board, 8. Bobby Plater,
9. Earl “Fox” Walker, 10. Gene Morris, 11. Benny Bailey,
12. Wendell Cull(e)y 13. probably Walter Williams,
14. probably Leo “The Whistler” Shepherd,
15. Ben Kynard, 16. Jimmy “Harpo” Wormick, 17. Benny Powell,
18. Al Grey, 19. Lester Bass. Photo number two brings us closer into the action:
Photo number two brings us closer into the action:
(click to enlarge) Bass trumpeter Lester Bass, Earl “Fox” Walker and
Benny Powell at the Strand Theatre, N.Y.C., late April or early May 1949.
Photo by Duncan P. Schiedt. From the Otto Flückiger collection. A closer look into the reed section:
(click to enlarge) Bobby Plater, Earl “Fox” Walker and
Gene Morris at the Strand Theatre, N.Y.C., late April or early May 1949.
Photo by Duncan P. Schiedt.From the Otto Flückiger collection
Johnny Sparrow was still there (he was soon to form his own band, Johnny Sparrow and his Bows and Arrows).
(click to enlarge) Johnny Sparrow at the Strand Theatre, N.Y.C., late April
or early May 1949. Photo by Duncan P. Schiedt.
From
The 1949 Hampton indeed band had a strong reed section. Here are some shots of tenor player Billy Willams:
(click to enlarge) Billy Williams at the Strand Theatre, N.Y.C., late April or
early May 1949. Photo by Duncan P. Schiedt.
rom the Otto Flückiger collection
collection.(click to enlarge) Lionel Hampton and Billy Williams at the Strand Theatre,
N.Y.C., late April or earlyMay 1949. Photo by Duncan P. Schiedt.
From the Otto Flückiger collection
And here is Johnny Board:
(click to enlarge) Johnny Board at the Strand Theatre, N.Y.C.,
late April or early May 1949. Photo by Duncan P. Schiedt.
From the Otto Flückiger collection.
Charles Mingus had left the band already and so Roy Johnson was the sole bassist in this edition of Hampton’s orchestra:
(click to enlarge) Roy Johnson and Billy Williams at the Strand Theatre
N.Y.C., late April or early May 1949. Photo by Duncan P. Schiedt.
From the Otto Flückiger collection
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