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This pianist wrote his first ragtime composition (“The Charleston Rag”) in 1899, became a songwriter of Broadway shows in the 1920s, and, before dying five days after his 100th birthday, became known as “the last living link to ragtime.” Who is he?
James P. Johnson
Scott Joplin
Tony Jackson
Eubie Blake
Cliff Jackson
Fats Waller
Jelly Roll Morton
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...February 16th, 2015
This pianist was Billie Holiday’s regular accompanist during her last two years (1957 – 1959), and also played in the Eric Dolphy-Booker Little Quintet that recorded extensively at New York’s Five Spot in 1961. Who is he?
Mal Waldron
Al Haig
Duke Jordan
Hampton Hawes
Joe Albany
George Wallington
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...January 27th, 2015
This Dixieland cornetist was an original member of the legendary Austin High School Gang (pictured) in the 1920’s, and was Bix Beiderbecke’s replacement in the Wolverines. He was eventually a featured soloist (along with Benny Goodman) in Ben Pollack’s band. Who is he?
Wingy Manone
Jimmy McPartland
Rex Stewart
Frankie Newton
Nat Gonella
Max Kaminsky
Sharkey Bonano
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January 8th, 2015
Once the most advanced trombonist in jazz, in addition to his time with the Original Memphis Five (starting in 1922), he is best known for his recordings with cornetist Red Nichols. Who is he?
J.C. Higginbotham
Tricky Sam Nanton
Lawrence Brown
Dickie Wells
Jack Teagarden
Miff Mole
Trummy Young
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...December 8th, 2014
Described by one reviewer as “one of the pioneers of this raucous, rapid-fire, eight-to-the-bar piano style,” this pianist was active in Chicago from 1915 but remained unrecorded until 1939. In addition to his work as a pianist, during World War I he played baseball for the Negro Baseball League’s Chicago All-Americans, and was a groundskeeper for the Chicago White Sox throughout his life. Who is he?
Pete Johnson
James P. Johnson
Albert Ammons
Meade Lux Lewis
Luckey Roberts
Cliff Jackson
Jimmy Yancey
Tony Jackson
...October 20th, 2014
This popular music singer once sang backup with her vocal group the Pied Pipers in Tommy Dorsey’s band and occasionally performed under the pseudonym “Darlene Edwards.” By 1955, she had sold more records than any other female artist, and one of her songs was the first record by a woman to reach #1 on the U.K. Singles Chart. Who is she?
Anita O’Day
Jo Stafford
Helen Merrill
Peggy Lee
Chris Connor
Carmen McRae
Lena Horne
Mildred Bailey
...September 29th, 2014
This trumpeter played in the bands of Lionel Hampton and Andy Kirk, and was a prominent figure in the transition from swing to bop, even described as the “missing link” between Roy Eldridge and Fats Navarro. Who is he?
Kenny Dorham
Clark Terry
Bill Coleman
Howard McGhee
Freddie Webster
Jonah Jones
Charlie Shavers
...September 22nd, 2014
This posthumously-awarded Grammy winning musician/composer was the pianist and arranger for the vocal group The Hi-Lo’s in the late 1950’s, and after working with Donald Byrd and Dizzy Gillespie became known for his Latin and bossa nova recordings in the 1960’s. He was also frequently cited by Herbie Hancock as a “major influence.” Who is he?
Buddy Bregman
Lalo Schifrin
Clare Fischer
Tito Puente
George Shearing
George Russell
Cal Tjader
...August 11th, 2014
Known as “Mr. Entertainment,” this clarinetist’s band was second only to Paul Whiteman’s (pictured) in popularity during the 1920s. Who is he?
Fred Waring
Noble Sissle
Rudy Vallee
Ben Pollack
Phil Harris
Ted Lewis
...August 4th, 2014
Playing at Los Angeles’ Cocoanut Grove club, and featuring singers that included Bing Crosby, this bandleader led the top West Coast big band during the 20’s and 30’s. Who was he?
Ben Bernie
Gus Arnheim
Paul Whiteman
Ted Lewis
Jean Goldkette
Ben Pollack
Fred Waring
...July 28th, 2014
Who was known as the “middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone?”
Dony Byas
Gato Barbieri
Chu Berry
Gene Ammons
Sonny Stitt
Stan Getz
Hank Mobley
Chico Freeman
...July 14th, 2014
Before becoming a full time musician, this pianist was a welterweight boxer who once fought “Sugar” Ray Robinson. Who is he?
Red Garland
Mel Powell
John Lewis
Billy Taylor
Elmo Hope
Wynton Kelly
Barry Harris
Hank Jones
...June 9th, 2014
This bassist played with Charlie Barnet (pictured) in 1942, was on the recording session of Coleman Hawkins’ “The Man I Love,” appeared in a mystery movie called The Crimson Canary, “inadvertently” discovered Cannonball Adderley, and is considered the pioneer of the cello as a solo instrument in jazz. Who is he?
Milt Hinton
Jimmy Blanton
Oscar Pettiford
Charles Mingus
Charlie Haden
Red Callendar
Curly Russell
Walter Page
...June 2nd, 2014
Between 1933 – 1938, this legendary arranger led his own band in California that eventually became the backup group for Skinnay Ennis. Who is he?
Sy Oliver
Stan Kenton
George Russell
Quincy Jones
Pete Rugolo
Jimmy Giuffre
Gil Evans
...May 26th, 2014
This trumpeter was the spark plug in Gene Krupa’s band, and was known as “Little Jazz”. Who is he?
Dizzy Gillespie
Roy Eldridge
Fats Navarro
Chet Baker
Shorty Rogers
Conte Condoli
Bunny Berigan
Jonah Jones
...May 12th, 2014
In February, 1928, a large ad in Variety heralded this Chicago-based orchestra’s arrival in New York, referring to it as “THE BIG ORCHESTRA WITH THE LITTLE LEADER.” This orchestra featured some of the biggest future talents in popular music. Who was the orchestra’s leader?
Jean Goldkette
Jimmie Lunceford
Luis Russell
Tommy Dorsey
Ben Pollack
Bob Crosby
Charlie Barnet
Paul Whiteman
...May 5th, 2014
While a member of Lionel Hampton’s band, his “Flying Home” solo was considered to be the first R&B sax solo. Who was he?
Johnny Board
Eddie Chamblee
James Moody
Buddy Tate
Illinois Jacquet
Frank Foster
Willie Smith
Dexter Gordon
...
April 21st, 2014
This artist may be best known as the author of a book whose concept was playing jazz based on scales rather than chord changes — a theory that helped pave the way for the modal revolutions of Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Who is he?
Herbie Nichols
Bill Evans
George Russell
Lennie Tristano
Gil Evans
Anthony Braxton
Tadd Dameron
...
April 14th, 2014
In 1938, Charlie Parker stayed in this musician’s New York apartment, despite the wife’s objections. Who is he?
Roy Eldridge
Coleman Hawkins
Billy Eckstine
Art Tatum
Dizzy Gillespie
Lester Young
Kenny Clarke
Buster Smith
...April 7th, 2014
In 1949, this artist coined the phrase “Bop for the People,” which implied a more accessible form of the music. Who is he?
Charlie Ventura
Lionel Hampton
Red Norvo
Gene Krupa
Zoot Sims
Stan Getz
...March 31st, 2014
Known as “Mule,” this bassist was also known for singing along with his bowed solos (much like Slam Stewart). Who was he?
Major Holley
Oscar Pettiford
Curley Russell
Tommy Potter
Gene Ramey
Buster Williams
Red Callender
John Kirby
...March 17th, 2014
Who was known as the “middleweight champion of the tenor?”
John Coltrane
Johnny Griffin
Ike Quebec
Gene Ammons
Hank Mobley
Eddie Lockjaw Davis
Cannonball Adderley
Cleanhead Vinson
...March 10th, 2014
What sax player initially turned from the alto to the tenor sax in a purported effort to escape his image as a follower of Charlie Parker?
_____
Dexter Gordon
Cannonball Adderley
Nat Adderley
Sonny Stitt
Sonny Rollins
Gene Ammons
Roland Kirk
...March 3rd, 2014
In 1959, this bandleader toured Europe with a group originally put together to play for Harold Arlen’s show Free and Easy. Who is he?
Gerry Mulligan
Mayard Ferguson
Gerald Wilson
Don Ellis
Gil Evans
Stan Kenton
Quincy Jones
Sun Ra
...February 17th, 2014
Lester Young was the “Pres.” Who became known as the “Vice Pres?”
Paul Quinichette
Dexter Gordon
Hank Crawford
Paul Gonsalves
Don Byas
Johnny Griffin
Arnett Cobb
Lou Donaldson
...February 3rd, 2014
Born Norma Egstrom in 1920, this singer was so scared during her first recording session that her boss, Benny Goodman, was encouraged to fire her. Goodman recognized her talent and kept her. Who is Norma Egstrom?
Anita O day
Billie Holiday
Doris Day
Lena Horne
Peggy Lee
June Christy
Jo Stafford
Mildred Bailey
...January 27th, 2014
Who was nicknamed “Hootie” after “becoming literally intoxicated by Kansas City’s nightlife?”
Willie Dixon
Walter Page
George E. Lee
Bennie Moten
Harlan Leonard
Jay McShann
Joe Turner
Buddy Tate
January 20th, 2014
What big band leader was known as “The 20th Century Gabriel?”
Billy Eckstine
Cootie Williams
Benny Carter
Jimmy Lunceford
Jay McShann
King Oliver
Erskine Hawkins
Roy Eldridge
...
January 13th, 2014
Her 1920 recording of “Crazy Blues” for Okeh was the first blues song recorded by an African American singer. Who is she?
Ethel Waters
Bessie Smith
Mamie Smith
Josephine Baker
Ma Rainey
Ida Cox
Sippie Wallace
...December 30th, 2013
This west coast-based musician was a hot tenor of the forties who appeared in many of the top jam sessions during his era, including “The Duel,” with Dexter Gordon. Who was he?
Wardell Gray
Jimmy Giuffre
Buddy Collette
Bob Cooper
Teddy Edwards
Richie Kamucka
Zoot Sims
Lucky Thompson
...December 23rd, 2013
This sultry singer experienced significant popularity during the 1950’s and 1960’s, appeared in film and on television, and was once married to TV’s “Joe Friday.” Who is she?
June Christie
Julie London
Betty Roche
Dinah Washington
Chris Connor
Anita O’Day
Rosemary Clooney
Lorez Alexandria
...December 16th, 2013
This vocalist’s recording of “My Blue Heaven” was considered the top-selling recording of all-time prior to 1942, when Bing Crosby recorded “White Christmas.” Who was he?
Ray Anthony
Gene Austin
Bing Crosby
Cliff Edwards
Red Allen
Fats Waller
Jack Teagarden
Jelly Roll Morton
...December 9th, 2013
Before working with Woody Herman (and eventually marrying his singer Frances Wayne), this renowned composer/arranger contributed arrangements to Earl Hines’ big band, and subsequently played trumpet with, among others, Charlie Barnet, Horace Heidt and Charlie Spivak. Who was he?
Gil Evans
Pete Rugolo
Neal Hefti
Bill Holman
Benny Golson
Gerry Mulligan
Bob Brookmeyer
Eddie Sauter
...December 2nd, 2013
What was the first jazz LP to sell one million copies?
Miles Davis, Kind of Blue
John Coltrane, Giant Steps
Dave Brubeck, Time Out
Charles Lloyd, Forest Flower
Bill Evans, Waltz for Debby
Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, featuring Mahalia Jackson, Black, Brown and Beige
...November 25th, 2013
Immortalized by Jack Kerouac in On the Road, this musician answered to the name of “Dark Gable.” Who was he?
Billy Eckstine
Slim Gaillard
Earl Hines
Charlie Parker
Lester Young
Chick Webb
Coleman Hawkins
Duke Ellington
...November 18th, 2013
Before following Anita O’Day as lead singer of Stan Kenton’s orchestra, she was known as Sharon Leslie, and sang with a group led by Boyd Raeburn. Who was she?
...October 7th, 2013
Born Lucius Venable, among this bandleader’s notable sidemen were Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Bill Doggett, and Dizzy Gillespie. Who was Lucius Venable?
...September 30th, 2013
Ralph Ellison described this Oklahoma City native — eventually known as “Mr. Five by Five” — as once being a “compact, debonair young man who dressed with an easy elegance.” Who is he?
...September 17th, 2013
This saxophonist was best known for “Night Train,” a song based on Duke Ellington’s “Happy Go Lucky Local.”
Who was he?
...July 17th, 2013
“Adolphus” had one of the longest careers in the history of jazz, having played with, among others, Bessie Smith, McKinney’s Cotton Pickers, Cab Calloway, Teddy Wilson and Benny Goodman.
Who was “Adolphus”?
...July 3rd, 2013
“Miles” by J. Stephen Whitney
The Sunday Poem is published weekly, and strives to include the poet reading their work....
J. Stephen Whitney reads his poem at its conclusion
Click here to read previous editions of The Sunday Poem
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