Don Redman
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Don Redman – Wherever There's a Will
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Biography
Donald Matthew Redman (July 29, 1900, Piedmont, West Virginia - November 30, 1964, New York) was an American jazz musician, arranger, and composer.
Redman was born in Piedmont, West Virginia. His father was a music teacher, his mother was a singer. Don began playing the trumpet at the age of 3, joined his first band at 6 and by age 12 he was proficient on all wind instruments ranging from trumpet to oboe as well as piano. He studied at at Storer’s College in Harper’s Ferry and at the Boston Conservatory, then joined Billy Page’s Broadway Syncopaters in New York City.
In 1923 Don Redman joined the Fletcher Henderson orchestra, mostly playing clarinet and saxophones. He soon began assisting Henderson in writing arrangements, and Henderson and Redman did much to formulate the sound that was to become big band Swing. It’s significant to note that with a few exceptions, Henderson really didn’t start arranging until the early 1930’s. Redman did the bulk of arrangements (through 1927) and after he left Benny Carter took over arranging for the band.
A chief trademark of Redman’s arrangements was that he harmonized melody lines and pseudo-solos within separate sections; for example, clarinet, sax, or brass trios. He played these sections off each other, having one section punctuate the figures of another, or moving the melody around different orchestral sections and soloists. His use of this technique was sophisticated, highly innovative, and formed the basis of much big band jazz writing in the following decades.
Redman was born in Piedmont, West Virginia. His father was a music teacher, his mother was a singer. Don began playing the trumpet at the age of 3, joined his first band at 6 and by age 12 he was proficient on all wind instruments ranging from trumpet to oboe as well as piano. He studied at at Storer’s College in Harper’s Ferry and at the Boston Conservatory, then joined Billy Page’s Broadway Syncopaters in New York City.
In 1923 Don Redman joined the Fletcher Henderson orchestra, mostly playing clarinet and saxophones. He soon began assisting Henderson in writing arrangements, and Henderson and Redman did much to formulate the sound that was to become big band Swing. It’s significant to note that with a few exceptions, Henderson really didn’t start arranging until the early 1930’s. Redman did the bulk of arrangements (through 1927) and after he left Benny Carter took over arranging for the band.
A chief trademark of Redman’s arrangements was that he harmonized melody lines and pseudo-solos within separate sections; for example, clarinet, sax, or brass trios. He played these sections off each other, having one section punctuate the figures of another, or moving the melody around different orchestral sections and soloists. His use of this technique was sophisticated, highly innovative, and formed the basis of much big band jazz writing in the following decades.
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zrsullivan
Quite possibly the first jazz arranger of great genuis. Charts aside, his 'singing' es fantástico!
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