Today in Jazz

It was long believed that Louis Armstrong was born on July 4th, 1900, but following the discovery of his baptismal record at the Sacred Heart Of Jesus Church, the correct date has now been established as August 4, 1901. So, stay tuned, Louis's bio will be presented next month.

Butch Miles, Drums, 1944, Ironton, Ohio

Butch took music lessons while in his early teens, and then studied music at West Virginia State College from 1962 to 1966. After college, Butch worked with various small groups in and around Virginia, and then toured with Iris Bell's trio in the late '60s.  He next worked with Mel Torme from 1972 to 1974, and then spent the following four years with the Count Basie orchestra.  In the late '70s he did a short stint with Dave Brubeck and then spent about a year working with Tony Bennett. He spent several years as a freelance musician working with many fine groups led by musicians such as; Gerry Mulligan, Harry Edison, Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Sal Nestico, Woody Herman, Peanuts Hucko, Wild Bill Davison, Clark Terry, and the list goes on.  Miles began to perform and record with his own group in the late '70s.  He has played at jazz festivals and has taken part in numerous concerts and workshops for the Ludwig Drum Co.  His big-band drumming style is strongly influenced by the playing of Buddy Rich.  Butch is very versitile and much in demand, playing everything from dixieland to bop.

Aaron Sachs, Tenor sax, 1923, New York, NY

Aaron was taught by private teachers and in high school before he began working professionally with Babe Russin (1941) and then with the group of Van Alexander (1942-3).  Before he was twenty years old, Aaron was playing with musicians such as Red Norvo and Benny Goodman.  During the 1940s Sachs also made recordings with Eddie Heywood, Flip Phillips, and Sarah Vaughan.  In 1947 he recorded with his own bop that included Terry Gibbs and Gene DiNovi.  In the '50s he worked as a freelance and recorded with Gene Krupa and Earl Hines.  During the mid '50s, Butch was married to the vocalist Helen Merrill.  He performed sporadically with the percussionist Tito Rodriguez for a few years, and then toured and recorded with Louie Bellson during the late '50s.

July 2008

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