Jimmy Blanton, Bass, 1918, Chattanooga, TN
Jimmy began his performing career during the early '30s, playing in bands led by his mother, a pianist. He attended college briefly before he moved to St.Louis around 1938. In St. Louis Jimmy worked in the riverboat bands of Fate Marable. In 1939 Duke Ellington heard Jimmy play, and immediately invited him to join the band. Blanton's playing actually altered the Ellington sound, stabilizing the rhythm section and greatly enhancing it's swing. Many think, due to Blanton, that Duke began his most creative period as a composer. On many of Duke's masterpieces of this period, Blanton's bass parts were especially prominent. During this period Blanton also managed to play with groups that contributed to the development of Bop. From 1941 Jimmy's playing seemed to change and became somewhat erratic, and late that year he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. He was admitted to a sanatorium in California where he died shortly afterwards. In his brief career, Blanton changed the way the bass was played in a large ensemble, and many bass players drew on his innovations. The next big influences on bass were Scott LaFaro and Charles Mingus. He possessed a wide range, and a great technique, and above all, an unprecedented and dynamic sense of swing. Despite his short career, Blanton left a large recorded legacy, not only in his more than 130 recordings with Ellington, but also in almost every small group in this country and elsewhere. Jimmy Blanton died in 1942.
Hilton Jefferson, Saxophone, 1903, Danbury, CN
Hilton began playing the banjo professionally in the mid '20s, but by the end of the decade the alto sax was his main instrument. In late 1925, he made his home in New York and began playing with the Claude Hopkins band, remaining until 1929, when heleft to join Chick Webb. During this period he also managed to work with King Oliver, Benny Carter, Fletcher Henderson, Red Allen, and Ella Fitzgerald. During the early '50s, Jefferson played in Don Redman's band accompaning Pearl Bailey. During the '50s and '60s, due to some health problems, he played only part time, though he did record with various musicians. A particularly fine lead alto saxophonist, Hilton was also an exciting soloist. He played with a smooth, melodic style, and showed a sharp sense of structure and a distinctive forceful attack. Hilton Jefferson died in 1968.
