egroj world: Wilbur Harden • Tanganyika Strut

Thursday, November 9, 2023

Wilbur Harden • Tanganyika Strut

Biography by Scott Yanow
Wilbur Harden is a mystery man in jazz history, for he appeared on some important recording sessions (most notably with John Coltrane) and then, after 1960, pretty well disappeared. He played R&B with Roy Brown (1950) and Ivory Joe Hunter, and then served in the Navy. Harden emerged in 1957, recording with Yusef Lateef, and led four record dates for Savoy in 1958; three were with Coltrane (who became the leader on reissues), and one in a quartet with Tommy Flanagan. In 1960, Wilbur Harden (who was one of the first trumpeters to regularly double on flügelhorn) recorded one title with Curtis Fuller, but then ill health forced him to retire at the age of 35.
https://www.allmusic.com/artist/wilbur-harden-mn0000254942#biography

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Wilbur Harden, (31 diciembre 1924 – 10 junio 1969), se retiró de la escena del jazz a la edad de sólo 35 años, después de grabar un puñado de sesiones entre 1950 y 1960, las mas conocidas con el saxofonista, John Coltrane.

Comenzó tocando Rhythm and blues con Ray Brown e Ivory Joe Hunter, y luego sirvió en la Marina. Harden, empezó a destacar en 1957, grabando con Yusef Lateef, y como líder grabó cuatro álbumes que registró el sello Saboy en 1958, de estas, tres fueron con el citado, John Coltrane y una en un cuarteto con Tommy Flanagan. En 1960, Wilbur Harden que fue uno de los primeros trompetistas en tocar el fliscorno, registró un título con Curtis Fuller, pero una enfermedad le obligó a retirarse tempranamente, muriendo el año 1969 a la edad de 45 años. Entre sus composiciones se encuentran obras como: “Equinox”, “Giant Steps”, “Ogunde”, “Impressions”, “Naima” y “Lazy Bird”. En el año 1991 se le incorporó al “Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame”.
https://apoloybaco.com/jazz/wilbur-harden/

Tracks:
A1 - Tanganyika Strut - 9:57
A2 - B.J. - 4:33
B1 - Anedac - 5:12
B2 - Once In A While - 9:22

Credits:
Bass – Ali Jackson
Drums – Art Taylor
Flugelhorn – Wilbur Harden
Liner Notes – H. Alan Stein
Photography By – Hank Schneider
Piano – Howard Williams (tracks: A2 to B2), Tommy Flanagan (tracks: A1)
Recorded By – Rudy Van Gelder
Supervised By – Ozzie Cadena
Tenor Saxophone – John Coltrane
Trombone – Curtis Fuller
Written-By – C. Fuller (tracks: 1); W. Harden (tracks: 2, 3); Bud Green, Michael Edwards (tracks: 4)

Notes:
Recorded At – Van Gelder Studio, Hackensack, New Jersey
A1: Recorded June 24, 1958
A2 to B2: Recorded May 13, 1958
Originally released in 1958 (Savoy Records – MG-12136)

Label: Savoy Jazz
Genre: Jazz
Style: Hard Bop