egroj world: Louis Bellson • The Amazing Artistry Of Louis Bellson

Monday, August 12, 2024

Louis Bellson • The Amazing Artistry Of Louis Bellson

 


One of the world’s greatest drummers, Louie Bellson has been an exciting crowd pleaser for over 60 years. A well-respected educator and one of the nicest people in the music business, the still-active Louie Bellson is a class act.

Born Luigi Paolino Balassoni, Bellson won a nationwide Gene Krupa drum contest in 1940 and was heard by Tommy Dorsey, who was quite impressed. The drummer started at the top in 1941, playing with Benny Goodman; after serving in the military, he worked with the big bands of Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, and Harry James. His trademark was using two bass drums in his set. From the start, Bellson was able to construct fascinating solos that could hold one’s interest for as long as 15 minutes, yet he also enjoyed playing quietly with combos.

Performing regularly with Duke Ellington during 1951-1953 made Bellson world-famous and he also gained good reviews for his writing, which included “Skin Deep” and “The Hawk Talks.” After marrying Pearl Bailey, he left Ellington to work as his wife’s musical director but he also performed in many different settings, including with Jazz At The Philharmonic, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, the Dorsey Brothers Orchestra, Count Basie, and special projects with Ellington. In addition Bellson led his own big band and small groups, recording regularly as a leader.

Since the 1960s, Bellson has been involved in educational work, teaching young musicians his dynamic drumming technique. In the 1970s and 1980s, he could frequently be found on recordings from impresario Norman Granz's Pablo label, as well as the Concord label. He has published many of his scores, including his jazz ballet The Marriage Vows. For more than thirty years he has led big bands internationally, and continued to tour, often with a quintet.

Bellson has performed on more than 200 albums with such greats as Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Woody Herman, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Wayne Newton and Bellson's late wife Pearl Bailey.

Composer and author, he has written more than 1,000 compositions and more than a dozen books on drums and percussion. He received the prestigious American Jazz Masters Award from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1994. Also, he is a six-time Grammy nominee.

In 1998, Louie Bellson was hailed (along with Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones and Max Roach) as one of four "Living Legends of Music" when he received the American Drummers Achievement Award from the Zildjian Company.

Bellson holds four honorary doctorates, the latest from DePaul University in 2001. In 2003, a historical land-marker was dedicated at his July 6, 1924 birth house in Rock Falls, Illinois, thus inaugurating their annual 4-day celebration in his honor.

The 2006 CD release of "The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson and the Jazz Ballet" amply showcased his mastery and breadth as both composer and performer. This "magnum opus" is well attested to by the highest accolades of colleagues Tony Bennett, Della Reese, Dave Brubeck, Lalo Schifrin, and others

In March 2007, Bellson and 35 other jazz greats received the Living Jazz Legends Award from the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC.

Jazz drumming legend Louie Bellson passed on Feb.14, 2009.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/louie-bellson/


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Louie Bellson, uno de los mejores bateristas del mundo, ha complacido al público durante más de 60 años. Louie Bellson, un educador muy respetado y una de las personas más agradables en el negocio de la música, aún activo, es un acto de clase.

Nacido como Luigi Paolino Balassoni, Bellson ganó un concurso nacional de batería Gene Krupa en 1940 y fue escuchado por Tommy Dorsey, quien quedó bastante impresionado. El baterista comenzó en la cima en 1941, tocando con Benny Goodman; después de servir en el ejército, trabajó con las grandes bandas de Goodman, Tommy Dorsey y Harry James. Su marca registrada fue usar dos bombos en su set. Desde el principio, Bellson pudo construir solos fascinantes que podían mantener el interés de uno durante hasta 15 minutos, pero también disfrutaba tocar en silencio con combos.

Actuar regularmente con Duke Ellington durante 1951-1953 hizo a Bellson mundialmente famoso y también obtuvo buenas críticas por sus escritos, que incluyeron "Skin Deep" y "The Hawk Talks."Después de casarse con Pearl Bailey, dejó Ellington para trabajar como director musical de su esposa, pero también actuó en muchos entornos diferentes, incluso con Jazz En la Filarmónica, Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, la Orquesta de los Hermanos Dorsey, Count Basie y proyectos especiales con Ellington. Además Bellson lideró su propia big band y pequeños grupos, grabando regularmente como líder.

Desde la década de 1960, Bellson ha estado involucrado en el trabajo educativo, enseñando a jóvenes músicos su técnica dinámica de batería. En las décadas de 1970 y 1980, se lo podía encontrar con frecuencia en grabaciones del sello Pablo del empresario Norman Granz, así como en el sello Concord. Ha publicado muchas de sus partituras, incluido su ballet de jazz The Marriage Vows. Durante más de treinta años ha liderado grandes bandas a nivel internacional y ha continuado de gira, a menudo con un quinteto.

Bellson ha actuado en más de 200 álbumes con grandes como Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Woody Herman, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Armstrong, Lionel Hampton, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Joe Williams, Wayne Newton y la difunta esposa de Bellson, Pearl Bailey.

Compositor y autor, ha escrito más de 1.000 composiciones y más de una docena de libros sobre batería y percusión. Recibió el prestigioso premio American Jazz Masters de la Fundación Nacional de las Artes en 1994. Además, ha sido nominado seis veces al Grammy.

En 1998, Louie Bellson fue aclamado (junto con Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones y Max Roach) como una de las cuatro "Leyendas vivas de la música" cuando recibió el premio American Drummers Achievement Award de Zildjian Company.

Bellson tiene cuatro doctorados honorarios, el último de la Universidad DePaul en 2001. En 2003, se dedicó un hito histórico en su casa natal del 6 de julio de 1924 en Rock Falls, Illinois, inaugurando así su celebración anual de 4 días en su honor.

El lanzamiento en CD de 2006 de "The Sacred Music of Louie Bellson and the Jazz Ballet" mostró ampliamente su maestría y amplitud como compositor e intérprete. Esta "obra maestra" está bien atestiguada por los más altos elogios de sus colegas Tony Bennett, Della Reese, Dave Brubeck, Lalo Schifrin y otros

En marzo de 2007, Bellson y otros 35 grandes del jazz recibieron el premio Living Jazz Legends Award del Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts en Washington, DC.

La leyenda de la batería de jazz Louie Bellson falleció en febrero.14, 2009.
https://www.allaboutjazz.com/musicians/louie-bellson/


Tracks:
A1 - A Pearl For Louie
A2 - Copasetic
B1 - Fascinatin' Rhythm
B2 - All God's Chillun Got Rhythm


Credits:
Louie Bellson, drums;
Ralph Martin, Piano;
Don Elliot, mellophone, vibes, trumpet and bongos;
Joe Puma, guitar;
Bob Paterson, bass.

Recorded in 1955 and issued on an extended play 7" 45 rpm record.

 

 

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