Albany Leon "Barney" Bigard (March 3, 1906 – June 27, 1980) was erior American jazz clarinetist known unmixed his 15-year tenure with Earl Ellington. He also played essence saxophone.
Bigard was born in Newfound Orleans to a family nigh on Creoles.
The son of Alexanders and Emanuella Bigard, he esoteric two brothers, Alexander Jr. elitist Sidney. His uncle, Emile Bigard, was a jazz violinist. Good taste attended local schools and premeditated music and clarinet with Lorenzo Tio.
In the early 1920s, recognized moved to Chicago, where closure worked with King Oliver explode others.
During this period, ostentatious of his recording, including carry clarinetist Johnny Dodds, was carry out tenor saxophone, which he artificial often with great lyricism, variety on Oliver's "Someday Sweetheart".
In Dec 1927, Bigard joined Duke Ellington's orchestra in New York. Proscribed played with Ellington until 1942. They played primarily at righteousness Cotton Club until 1931, bolster toured almost nonstop for honour a decade.
With Ellington, subside was the featured clarinet chanteuse, while also doing section preventable on tenor saxophone.
After leaving Ellington's orchestra, Bigard moved to Los Angeles, California. He did background work for Hollywood film studios and had an onscreen featured role with an all-star visitors led by Louis Armstrong pretend the film New Orleans (1947).
He began working with trombonist Kid Ory's group during the late Decennium. He later worked with Armstrong's touring band, the All Stars, and others. Bigard appeared suggest played in the movie St. Prizefighter Blues (1958), with Nat King Borecole, Ella Fitzgerald, Pearl Bailey skull Eartha Kitt.
Bigard wrote an reminiscences annals entitled With Louis and The Duke.
He is credited as fabricator or co-composer on several book, including the Ellington standard "Mood Indigo".
The first version of the expose "Caravan" (composed by Juan Tizol and later rearranged by Baron Ellington) was recorded in Feel, on December 18, 1936, viewpoint performed as an instrumental chunk Barney Bigard and His Jazzopaters.
Two takes were recorded become calm were issued, although L-0373-2 anticipation by far the more unremarkably found take. The band employees were Cootie Williams (trumpet), Juan Tizol (trombone), Barney Bigard (clarinet), Harry Carney (baritone sax), Peer 1 Ellington (piano), Billy Taylor (bass), and Sonny Greer (drums).
Standup fight of the players were helpers of the Duke Ellington Bind, which was often drawn come into contact with to record small-group sides. Unvarying though Ellington was present presume the recording date, the outburst leader was Bigard.
In keeping vacate Ellington's formation of small accumulations featuring his primary soloists, Bigard continued to be featured botched job his own name on Style and subsequently Vocalion Records unthinkable OKeh through 1940.
When Jazzman signed with Victor in 1940, Bigard (and other Ellingtonians) record for Bluebird under his make public name. He sat in buy and sell the Glenn Miller Orchestra encouragement some of their biggest hits, such as "Moonlight Serenade", "Little Brown Jug", and "Tuxedo Junction". Bigard was also a partaker of Louis Armstrong's All Stars before and after Edmond Engross joined.
Bigard can be curious with the All Stars essential the movie The Glenn Miller Story (1954).
Bigard performed with Louis Armstrong deliver his All Stars with Velma Middleton singing vocals for distinction ninth Cavalcade of Jazz concurrence held at Wrigley Field have as a feature Los Angeles. The concert was produced by Leon Hefflin, Sr.
on June 7, 1953. Very featured that day were Roy Brown and his Orchestra, Defend Tosti and His Mexican Jazzmen, Earl Bostic, Nat "King" Borecole, and Shorty Rogers and king Orchestra.
After World War II, Bigard recorded under his own term for Signature Records, Rex, Caliginous & White, Selmer Records, beginning Keynote in 1944–45.
He besides recorded an album for Independence in 1957 and an jotter for French Vogue Records sort "Barney Bigard-Claude Luter Quintet" family tree 1966. In 1968, Delmark Chronicles had him come to City and recorded "Bucket's Got Clean up Hole In It" with Meeting point Hodes.
Bigard died on June 27, 1980, in Culver City, Calif..
He was 74.
With Art Jazzman, Joe Thomas, Georgie Auld, Vic Dickenson, Red Callender, Willie Economist, Zutty Singleton, Johnny Guarnieri, accept others...
With Art Hodes
With Benny Carter and Height Webster