This Week in Jazz History: November 18 to November 24

November 18

• Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra records Hoagy Carmichael’s “Washboard Blues,” 1927.
• Trumpeter/multi-instrumentalist Don Cherry born 1936 in Oklahoma City, OK.
• Tenor saxophonist John Coltrane records “Alabama,” 1963, in reaction to the church bombings in that state that killed four girls.

November 19

• Drummer/bandleader Chick Webb records “Don’t Be That Way,” 1934.
• Trombonist/bandleader Tommy Dorsey born 1905 in Shenandoah, PA.
• Pianist Teddy Wilson records “Pennies From Heaven” with vocalist Billie Holiday and clarinetist Benny Goodman, 1936.

November 20

• Trumpeter Miles Davis records arranger Gil Evans’ version of “Concierto de Aranjuez,” 1959.
• Tenor saxophonist Don Braden born 1963 in Cincinnati, OH.
• Guitarist Skeeter Best born 1914 in Kinston, NC.

November 21

• Pianist Geoff Keezer born 1970 in Eau Claire, WI.
• Xylphonist/composer Red Norvo records “Dance of the Octopus,” 1933, with Benny Goodman on bass clarinet.
• Tenor saxophonist Coleman Hawkins born 1904 in St. Joseph, MO.

November 22

• Pianist/arranger Horace Henderson born 1904 in Cuthbert, GA.
• Trombonist /arranger/composer Jimmy Knepper born 1927 in Los Angeles, CA.
• Composer/author/conductor Gunther Schuller born 1925 in Jackson Heights, NY.

November 23

• Bassist/composer Ray Drummond born 1946 in Brookline, MS.
• Composer Johnny Mandel born 1925 in New York, NY.
• Drummer Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers record At the Café Bohemia, with trumpeter Kenny Dorham, tenor saxophonist Hank Mobley, and pianist Horace Silver, 1955.

November 24

• Vocalist Bessie Smith makes her last recordings, including “Give Me A Pigfoot,” 1933.
• Organist/arranger Will Bill Davis born 1918 in Glasgow, MO.
• Saxophonist/composer/arranger Al Cohn born 1925 in New York, NY.

Source: Smithsonian Jazz