Out Of Nowhere

[Peter Friedman]

There are recordings on which an unknown player seems to come "Out Of Nowhere" to perform alongside well known musicians. That may be his or her only jazz recording, or perhaps they show up one or two additional times. But then they disappear from the jazz recording scene.

The Prestige CD I just played has such a musician. Trumpet player Henry Boozier plays with Milt Jackson, Horace Silver, Percy Heath, and Kenny Clarke.

I suspect there are others many on this board came identify.

[BillF]

Interesting thread, Peter! We used to think that Clarence Shaw was like this, but I find more in his wikipedia entry than I'd expected. Dupree Bolton is more like it; wikipedia uses the word "obscure". All trumpeters so far! Why is that?

[Dave James]

Don't forget that there are a number of musicians who recorded under made up names due to contractual restrictions. The most famous of those would be Charlie Parker appearing as Charlie Chan. Frankly, Boozier sounds a little fishy to me.

I would be interested in other examples of musicians playing under a pseudonym.

Up over and out.

[BillF]

I would be interested in other examples of musicians playing under a pseudonym.

Haven't we done that one already?

[Chuck Nessa]

Boozier shows up on an Atlantic session by Bags as well as sessions with BB King, Gatemouth Brown, Bobby Bland, Al Grey/Bily Mitchell, Charlie Singleton and Paul Williams. All these were from 1952-62.

[Chas]

Tenorman Henry Durant didn't record much , but he did manage to record a session with Horace Silver and Art Blakey in 1954 .

Organist Milt Harris came out of obscurity to record a half-dozen LPs with Johnny Lytle before returning to obscurity .

EDIT : Another out-of-nowhere cat was trumpeter Johnny Splawn , and one of my favorites , pianist Austin Crowe , was another .

Edited December 10, 2008 by Chas

[BruceH]

BillF named a good one in Dupree Bolton. If ever a musician seemed to come out of nowhere and knock everyone's socks off, it's him with The Fox and Katanga! He then simply dropped off the radar screen.

Edited December 10, 2008 by BruceH

[BillF]

BillF named a good one in Dupree Bolton. If ever a musician seemed to come out of nowhere and knock everyone's socks off, it's him with The Fox and Katanga! He then simply dropped off the radar screen.

On the back of my Contemporary/Boplicity vinyl copy of The Fox there's a great photo of Harold Land, apparently amazed by Bolton's playing!

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

All trumpeters so far! Why is that?

Dunno, but Lou Donaldson was a great one for hiring trumpeters. After several years with Bill Hardman in his band (Bill is on most of Lou's Argo/Cadets), he had

Melvin Lastie on "Alligator boogaloo" (Mel was a well known New Orleans musician who never found much fame outside)

Eddie Williams on "Hot dog", "Everything I play" and "Cosmos"

Fred Ballard on "The Scorpion"

and there were, apparently, others who didn't record (Blue Mitchell appeared on quite a few of the later BN sessions)

MG