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Frankie Trumbauer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Frankie Trumbauer | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Frankie Trumbauer |
| Also known as | "Tram" Trumbauer |
| Born | 30 May 1901 |
| Origin |  Carbondale, Illinois |
| Died | 11 June 1956 |
| Genre(s) | Jazz, dixieland |
| Instrument(s) | saxophone |
Frankie (Tram) Trumbauer (30 May 1901–11 June 1956) was one of the leading jazz saxophonists of the 1920s and 1930s. He played C melody saxophone, which in size is between an alto and tenor saxophone. He was the only notable Jazz musician to play C melody (Rudy Wiedoeft not being strictly a Jazz musician). He also played alto.
Trumbauer is, more than anything, remembered for being the musical companion of Bix Beiderbecke, a companionship that produced some of the finest and most innovative jazz records of the late 1920s.
He recruited Beiderbecke for Jean Goldkette's Victor Recording Orchestra, of which he became musical director. In the late 1920s he cut several popular sides with Beiderbecke, including the legendary "Singin' the Blues." After leaving Goldkette, he and Beiderbecke worked briefly for Adrian Rollini, then joined Paul Whiteman's band in 1927. He played with Whiteman for eight of the following nine years. He had a separate contract with OKeh Records from 1927 through 1930, he record some of the most legendary small group Jazz recordings of the era, usually including Beiderbecke until the April 30, 1929 session. In 1931 he organized a band and recorded for Brunswick and then roganized another in New York in 1932 and recorded for Columbia. During 1934-1936, while a member of Paul Whiteman's Orchestra, he made a series of recordings for Brunswick and Victor, often including Jack Teagarden.
In 1936 he led the Three T's, featuring the Teagarden brothers; in 1938, he and Manny Klein started a band which they co-led. During World War II, he was assigned to the Civil Aeronautics Authority, where he was a test pilot. He continued to work for the CAA after the war, and also played in the NBC Orchestra. After 1947, although he continued to play and record, he earned most of his income outside music. He was unable to adapt to the Swing Era and his phrasing remained 'dated'.
Trumbauer's cool, delicate style and slow vibrato influenced many important saxophonists, including Benny Carter, Lester Young and Art Pepper. Like Beiderbecke, Trumbauer introduced a 'cool' sensibility into jazz, rather than the prevalent 'hot' style of the time.
His compositions include 'Trumbology' (1927).