Artist Biography by Scott Yanow
A talented stride pianist, Claude Hopkins never became as famous as he deserved. He was a bandleader early on, and toured Europe in the mid-'20s as the musical director for Josephine Baker. Hopkins returned to the U.S. in 1926, led his own groups, and in 1930 took over Charlie Skeete's band. Between 1932-1935, he recorded steadily with his big band (all of the music has been reissued on three Classics CDs), which featured Jimmy Mundy arrangements and such fine soloists as trumpeter/vocalist Ovie Alston, trombonist Fernando Arbello, a young Edmond Hall on clarinet, and baritone and tenorman Bobby Sands, along with the popular high-note vocals of Orlando Roberson. The orchestra's recordings are a bit erratic, with more than their share of mistakes from the ensembles and a difficulty in integrating Hopkins' powerhouse piano with the full group, but they are generally quite enjoyable.
Mundy's eccentric "Mush Mouth" is a classic, and Hopkins introduced his best-known original, "I Would Do Anything for You." Although they played regularly at Roseland (1931-1935) and the Cotton Club (1935-1936), and there were further sessions in 1937 and 1940, the Claude Hopkins big band never really caught on and ended up breaking up at the height of the swing era. Hopkins did lead a later, unrecorded big band (1944-1947), but mostly worked with small groups for the remainder of his career. He played with Red Allen's group during the second half of the 1950s, led his own band during 1960-1966, and in 1968 was in the Jazz Giants with Wild Bill Davison. Claude Hopkins led an obscure record for 20th Century Fox (1958) and three Swingville albums (1960-1963), but his best later work were solo stride dates for Chiaroscuro and Sackville (both in 1972), and a trio session for Black & Blue in 1974; it is surprising that his piano skills were not more extensively documented.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/claude-hopkins-mn0000138839/biography
Claude Hopkins - pianist, bandleader, (1903 - 1984)
Often overlooked by historians, Claude Hopkins was a major contributor to the development of early jazz and swing music. He was an incredibly gentle yet powerful stride pianist who could perform both ballads and hot numbers with equal virtuosity. Hopkins also wrote and arranged many compositions of his own and in collaboration with other artists like J.C. Johnson and Bud Freeman.
Hopkins grew up in the Washington, D.C., area and learned to play piano at age seven. He studied music and medicine at Howard University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree, and later attended the Washington Conservatory. He worked with several bands while in college and formed his own group in 1924 for an engagement in Atlantic City, after which he spent a brief period with Wilbur Sweatman before forming another group of his own.
In September of 1925 Hopkins traveled to Europe, where he became Josephine Baker's musical director, touring Europe with her revue. He then led his own band in Italy and Spain in 1926 before returning to the states in the spring of that year. He worked with several groups of his own until taking over Charlie Skeete's orchestra in 1930. Hopkins band was a regular performer at the Savoy Ballroom in 1930, the Roseland Ballroom from 1931 to 1935, and the Cotton Club in 1935 and 1936.
Hopkins recorded often during the early and mid-1930s but was silent from 1937 to late 1939, when he led the band on extensive tours. He entered the studio again in early 1940 for the AMMOR label. Vocalists for the band were Orlando Roberson, who was known for hitting the high notes, and trumpeter Ovie Alston. Standout musicians included clarinetist Ed Hall, trumpeter Jabbo Smith, saxophonist Bobby Sands, trombonists Vic Dickenson and Fernando Arbello. In the late 1930s Hopkins occasionally fronted the band, allowing other pianists to take his instrument.
https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/claudehopkins
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Biografía del artista por Scott Yanow
Pianista de talento, Claude Hopkins nunca llegó a ser tan famoso como se merecía. Fue director de orquesta desde muy temprano y realizó una gira por Europa a mediados de los años 20 como director musical de Josephine Baker. Hopkins regresó a los Estados Unidos en 1926, dirigió sus propios grupos y en 1930 se hizo cargo de la banda de Charlie Skeete. Entre 1932-1935, grabó constantemente con su big band (toda la música ha sido reeditada en tres discos compactos clásicos), que incluía arreglos de Jimmy Mundy y solistas tan finos como el trompetista/vocalista Ovie Alston, el trombonista Fernando Arbello, un joven Edmond Hall en clarinete, y el barítono y teniente Bobby Sands, junto con la popular voz de Orlando Roberson. Las grabaciones de la orquesta son un poco erráticas, con más que su parte de errores de los conjuntos y una dificultad para integrar el piano de Hopkins con el grupo completo, pero generalmente son bastante agradables.
La excéntrica "Mush Mouth" de Mundy es un clásico, y Hopkins presentó su más conocido original, "I Would Do Anything for You". Aunque tocaban regularmente en Roseland (1931-1935) y en el Cotton Club (1935-1936), y hubo más sesiones en 1937 y 1940, la big band de Claude Hopkins nunca se dio cuenta y terminó rompiéndose en el apogeo de la era del swing. Hopkins dirigió una big band tardía y no registrada (1944-1947), pero trabajó principalmente con grupos pequeños durante el resto de su carrera. Tocó con el grupo de Red Allen durante la segunda mitad de los años 50, dirigió su propia banda durante 1960-1966, y en 1968 estuvo en los Jazz Giants con Wild Bill Davison. Claude Hopkins dirigió un oscuro disco para 20th Century Fox (1958) y tres discos de Swingville (1960-1963), pero sus mejores trabajos posteriores fueron fechas de zancadas en solitario para Chiaroscuro y Sackville (ambos en 1972), y una sesión de trío para Black & Blue en 1974; es sorprendente que sus habilidades como pianista no estuvieran más ampliamente documentadas.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/claude-hopkins-mn0000138839/biography
Claude Hopkins - pianista, director de orquesta, (1903 - 1984)
A menudo pasado por alto por los historiadores, Claude Hopkins fue un gran contribuyente al desarrollo del jazz antiguo y del swing. Era un pianista increíblemente gentil pero poderoso que podía interpretar tanto baladas como números calientes con igual virtuosismo. Hopkins también escribió y arregló muchas composiciones propias y en colaboración con otros artistas como J.C. Johnson y Bud Freeman.
Hopkins creció en el área de Washington, D.C. y aprendió a tocar el piano a los siete años. Estudió música y medicina en la Universidad de Howard, donde se graduó con una licenciatura, y más tarde asistió al Conservatorio de Washington. Trabajó con varias bandas mientras estaba en la universidad y formó su propio grupo en 1924 para un compromiso en Atlantic City, después de lo cual pasó un breve período con Wilbur Sweatman antes de formar otro grupo propio.
En septiembre de 1925 Hopkins viajó a Europa, donde se convirtió en el director musical de Josephine Baker, recorriendo Europa con su revista. Luego dirigió su propia banda en Italia y España en 1926 antes de regresar a los Estados Unidos en la primavera de ese año. Trabajó con varios grupos propios hasta que se hizo cargo de la orquesta de Charlie Skeete en 1930. La banda de Hopkins actuó regularmente en el Savoy Ballroom en 1930, en el Roseland Ballroom de 1931 a 1935 y en el Cotton Club en 1935 y 1936.
Hopkins grabó a menudo a principios y mediados de la década de 1930, pero permaneció en silencio desde 1937 hasta finales de 1939, cuando dirigió la banda en extensas giras. Entró de nuevo en el estudio a principios de 1940 para el sello AMMOR. Los vocalistas de la banda eran Orlando Roberson, conocido por sus notas altas, y el trompetista Ovie Alston. Entre los músicos destacados se encontraban el clarinetista Ed Hall, el trompetista Jabbo Smith, el saxofonista Bobby Sands, los trombonistas Vic Dickenson y Fernando Arbello. A finales de la década de 1930, Hopkins encabezaba ocasionalmente la banda, permitiendo que otros pianistas tomaran su instrumento.
https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/claudehopkins
Tracklist:
A1 - Offbeat Blues
A2 - Safari Stomp
A3 - Late Evening
B1 - The Way You Look Tonight
B2 - I Apologize
B3 - I Surrender Dear
B4 - I Would Do Anything For You
Credits:
Bass – Wendell Marshall
Drums – J.C. Heard
Piano – Claude Hopkins
Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet – Buddy Tate
Trumpet – Joe Thomas
Recorded: February 21, 1961
Studio: Van Gelder Studio, Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Label: Prestige Swingville – SV 2020, Prestige Swingville – SVLP 2020
Released: 1961
Genre: Jazz
Length: 34:38
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thank for the original uploader
Thanks Jorge! Prestige I have not yet heard.
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