Albert Ammons: Difference between revisions
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'''Albert Ammons''' ([[23 September]] [[1907]]-[[2 December]][[1949]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[jazz]], [[blues music|blues]] and [[boogie-woogie (music)|boogie woogie]] [[pianist]] born in [[Chicago, Illinois]], perhaps most known for his hit ''"Swanee River Boogie"''. Ammons played the [[melody]] of "[[Old Folks at Home]]" over a [[boogie woogie]] bass. One of the leading [[boogie-woogie (music)|boogie woogie]] pianists of his era, he led his own band in Chicago from [[1934]]-[[1938]] and was flexible enough to play [[Swing music]] as well. He was the father of tenor [[saxophonist]] [[Gene Ammons]] and cut a session with him. |
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| Born = {{birth date|1907|9|23|mf=y}} |
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| Died = {{death date and age|1949|12|2|1907|9|23}}<br><small>[[Chicago, Illinois]], [[United States|USA]]</small> |
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| Origin = {{Flagicon|USA}} <small>[[Chicago, Illinois]], [[United States|USA]] |
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| Genre = [[Jazz]], [[blues music|Blues]], [[boogie-woogie (music)|Boogie woogie]] |
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| Years_active = [[1920]]s – [[1949]] |
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| Label = [[Vocalion Records|Vocalion]], [[Blue Note Records|Blue Notes]], [[Demark Records|Demark]], [[Mercury Records|Mercury]] |
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'''Albert Ammons''' (born [[September 23]], [[1907]] in [[Chicago, Illinois]]; died [[December 2]], [[1949]] in [[Chicago, Illinois]]) was an [[United States|American]] [[pianist]]. Ammons was the king of [[boogie-woogie (music)|boogie woogie]], a bluesy jazz style that swept the United States—and then the world—from the late [[1930]]s into the mid-[[1940]]s. He represented boogie-woogie's highest level of artistic achievement. |
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In 1938 Ammons moved to [[New York]] and performed in the ''[[From Spirituals to Swing]]'' concert at [[Carnegie Hall]], an event that helped start the boogie-woogie craze. He and two other performers at the concert, [[Meade Lux Lewis]] and [[Pete Johnson]], became the leading boogie-woogie pianists of the day. The three worked together at [[Café Society]] and also toured and recorded as a trio. He worked steadily till his death in 1949; he played at [[Harry S. Truman]]'s inauguration that year. |
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| ⚫ | Ammons has had wide influence on countless pianists such as Dave Alexander, [[Dr. John]], Hadda Brooks, Johnnie Johnson, [[ |
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== |
==Life and career== |
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Born Albert Ammons in [[Chicago, Illinois]], his parents were pianists, he had learned to play by the age of ten. He also played percussion in the drum and bugle corps as a teenager, and was soon performing with bands on the Chicago club scene. After [[World War I]], he became interested in the blues, and learned by listening to Chicago pianists [[Hersal Thomas]] and the brothers [[Jimmy Yancey]] and [[Alonzo Yancey]].<ref>Santelli, Robert. ''The Big Book of Blues'', Penguin Books, page 13, (2001) - ISBN 0141001453</ref> In the early-to-mid [[1920]]s, Ammons worked as a cab driver for the Silver Taxicab Company and continued to reside in Chicago. In [[1924]] he met a fellow taxi driver who also played piano, [[Meade Lux Lewis|Meade "Lus" Lewis]]. Soon the two players began working as a team, performing at club parties. Ammons started his own band at the Club De Lisa in [[1934]], and remained at the club for the next two years. During that time he played with a powerful five-piece unit that included [[Guy Kelly]], Dalbert Bright, Jimmy Hoskins, and [[Israel Crosby]]. Ammons also recorded as Albert Ammons's Rhythm Kings for [[Decca Records]] in [[1936]]. The Rhythm Kings' version of "Swanee River Boogie" would sell a million copies. Despite this success, he moved from [[Chicago]] to [[New York City]], where he teamed up with another talented pianist, [[Pete Johnson]]. The two performed regularly at the [[Café Society]], and were occasionally joined by [[Meade Lux Lewis|Meade "Lus" Lewis]], and performed with noted jazz artists such as [[Benny Goodman]] and [[Harry James]]. |
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*Carr, Ian; Fairweather, Digby; Brian Priestley. "Jazz: The Rough Guide" (1995), Penguin, ISBN 1-85828-137-7, p. 11 |
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In [[1938]], Ammons appeared at [[Carnegie Hall]] with Johnson and Lewis, an event that really helped launch the boogie-woggie craze. Producer Alfred Lion attended John Hammond's Spirituals to Swing concert of [[December 23]], [[1938]], which had introduced Ammons and Lewis. Two weeks later, he started the [[Blue Note Records]] by recording nine Ammons solos ("The Blues", Boggie Woogie Stomp"), eight by Lewis, and a pair of duets, a one-day session in a rented studio.<ref>Vladimir, Bogdanov. ''All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues'', By Bogdanov, Backbeat Books, page 14, (2003) - ISBN 0879307366</ref> Recorded as a sideman with [[Sippie Wallace]] in the [[1940]]s, he even cut a session with his son, the great tenor saxophonist [[Gene Ammons]]. |
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Ammons played himself in the movie "Boogie-Woogie Dream" ([[1944]]), with [[Lena Horne]], and [[Pete Johnson]].<ref>[http://imdb.com/title/tt0036661/ Imdb: Boogie-Woogie Dream" (1944)]</ref> Although the boogie-woogie fad began to die down in [[1945]], following [[World War II]], Ammons had no difficulty securing work. He continued to tour as a solo artist during this time, and between [[1946]] and [[1949]] recorded for [[Mercury Records]], his last sides, with bassist Israel Crosby. Ammons's last triumph came when he played at President [[Harry S. Truman]]'s inauguration in [[1949]],<ref>Feather, Leonard G. ''Encyclopedia of Jazz'', Horizon Press, page 101, (1960) - ISBN 081801203X</ref> the same year as his death. |
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==Legacy== |
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| ⚫ | Ammons has had wide influence on countless pianists such as [[Dave Alexander (musician)|Dave Alexander]], [[Dr. John]], [[Hadda Brooks]], [[Johnnie Johnson (musician)|Johnnie Johnson]], [[Ray Bryant]], [[Erroll Garner]], Frank Muschalle, [[Katie Webster]], [[Axel Zwingenberger]], and German pianist Joerg Hegemann who honours Albert on the occasion of his 100th birthday in [[2007]] with his album ''A Tribute To Albert Ammons''. |
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==Discography== |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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!Year |
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!Title |
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!Genre |
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!Label |
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|- |
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|2004 |
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|''The Boogie Woogie Trio, Vols. 1-2'' |
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|Jazz |
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|Storyville |
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|<br> |
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|- |
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|1992 |
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|''The First Day'' |
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|Jazz |
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|Blue Notes |
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|<br> |
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|- |
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|1951 |
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|''Boogie Woogie Classics'' |
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|Jazz |
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|Blue Notes |
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|<br> |
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|- |
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|1948 |
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|''King of Boogie Woogie (1939-1949)'' |
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|Jazz |
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|Blues Classics |
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|<br> |
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|} |
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==Footnotes== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* http://www. |
* [http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/ammons-albert-biography E-Notes: Albert Ammons] |
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* http://www. |
* [http://www.geocities.com/shakin_stacks/albertammons.txt Albert Ammons] |
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* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/jazz/profiles/albert_ammons.shtml BBC: Albert Ammons] |
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* http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6720705 |
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=6720705 Find a Grave] |
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* [http://www.jazzpolice.com/content/view/7273/116/ Jazz Police article on Albert Ammons Centennial Celebration] |
* [http://www.jazzpolice.com/content/view/7273/116/ Jazz Police article on Albert Ammons Centennial Celebration] |
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Revision as of 02:36, 24 October 2007
Albert Ammons |
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Albert Ammons (born September 23, 1907 in Chicago, Illinois; died December 2, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois) was an American pianist. Ammons was the king of boogie woogie, a bluesy jazz style that swept the United States—and then the world—from the late 1930s into the mid-1940s. He represented boogie-woogie's highest level of artistic achievement.
Life and career
Born Albert Ammons in Chicago, Illinois, his parents were pianists, he had learned to play by the age of ten. He also played percussion in the drum and bugle corps as a teenager, and was soon performing with bands on the Chicago club scene. After World War I, he became interested in the blues, and learned by listening to Chicago pianists Hersal Thomas and the brothers Jimmy Yancey and Alonzo Yancey.[1] In the early-to-mid 1920s, Ammons worked as a cab driver for the Silver Taxicab Company and continued to reside in Chicago. In 1924 he met a fellow taxi driver who also played piano, Meade "Lus" Lewis. Soon the two players began working as a team, performing at club parties. Ammons started his own band at the Club De Lisa in 1934, and remained at the club for the next two years. During that time he played with a powerful five-piece unit that included Guy Kelly, Dalbert Bright, Jimmy Hoskins, and Israel Crosby. Ammons also recorded as Albert Ammons's Rhythm Kings for Decca Records in 1936. The Rhythm Kings' version of "Swanee River Boogie" would sell a million copies. Despite this success, he moved from Chicago to New York City, where he teamed up with another talented pianist, Pete Johnson. The two performed regularly at the Café Society, and were occasionally joined by Meade "Lus" Lewis, and performed with noted jazz artists such as Benny Goodman and Harry James.
In 1938, Ammons appeared at Carnegie Hall with Johnson and Lewis, an event that really helped launch the boogie-woggie craze. Producer Alfred Lion attended John Hammond's Spirituals to Swing concert of December 23, 1938, which had introduced Ammons and Lewis. Two weeks later, he started the Blue Note Records by recording nine Ammons solos ("The Blues", Boggie Woogie Stomp"), eight by Lewis, and a pair of duets, a one-day session in a rented studio.[2] Recorded as a sideman with Sippie Wallace in the 1940s, he even cut a session with his son, the great tenor saxophonist Gene Ammons.
Ammons played himself in the movie "Boogie-Woogie Dream" (1944), with Lena Horne, and Pete Johnson.[3] Although the boogie-woogie fad began to die down in 1945, following World War II, Ammons had no difficulty securing work. He continued to tour as a solo artist during this time, and between 1946 and 1949 recorded for Mercury Records, his last sides, with bassist Israel Crosby. Ammons's last triumph came when he played at President Harry S. Truman's inauguration in 1949,[4] the same year as his death.
Legacy
Ammons has had wide influence on countless pianists such as Dave Alexander, Dr. John, Hadda Brooks, Johnnie Johnson, Ray Bryant, Erroll Garner, Frank Muschalle, Katie Webster, Axel Zwingenberger, and German pianist Joerg Hegemann who honours Albert on the occasion of his 100th birthday in 2007 with his album A Tribute To Albert Ammons.
Discography
| Year | Title | Genre | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | The Boogie Woogie Trio, Vols. 1-2 | Jazz | Storyville | |
| 1992 | The First Day | Jazz | Blue Notes | |
| 1951 | Boogie Woogie Classics | Jazz | Blue Notes | |
| 1948 | King of Boogie Woogie (1939-1949) | Jazz | Blues Classics |
Footnotes
- ^ Santelli, Robert. The Big Book of Blues, Penguin Books, page 13, (2001) - ISBN 0141001453
- ^ Vladimir, Bogdanov. All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues, By Bogdanov, Backbeat Books, page 14, (2003) - ISBN 0879307366
- ^ Imdb: Boogie-Woogie Dream" (1944)
- ^ Feather, Leonard G. Encyclopedia of Jazz, Horizon Press, page 101, (1960) - ISBN 081801203X