This Week in Jazz History: December 23 to December 29

December 23

• Coleman Hawkins records “The Man I Love,” 1943.
• The first Spirituals To Swing concert is held at Carnegie Hall, 1938.
• Louis Armstrong records “Sweethearts on Parade,” 1930.

December 24

• Drummer Warren ‘Baby’ Dodds born 1898 in New Orleans, LA.
• Wayne Shorter records Speak No Evil, 1964.
• Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk record “Bag’s Groove,” 1954.

December 25

• Trombonist/bandleader Kid Ory born 1886 in La Place, LA.
• Pianist/organist/composer Don Pullen born 1941 in Roanoke, VA.
• Bandleader/singer Cab Calloway born 1907 in Rochester, NY.

December 26

• Bassist Monty Budwig born 1929 in Pender, NE.
• Tenor saxophonist John Coltrane records “Do I Love You Because You’re Beautiful?” with trumpeter Freddie Hubbard, 1958.
• Guitarist John Scofield born 1951 in Dayton, OH.

December 27

• Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster records “Old Folks” with alto saxophonist Benny Carter and bassist John Kirby.
• Bassist/author Bill Crow born 1927 in Othello, WA.
• Pianist Walter Norris born 1931 in Little Rock, AR.

December 28

• Bassist/composer Charles Mingus records “Changes I” with trumpeter Jack Walrath, tenor saxophonist George Adams, pianist Don Pullen, and drummer Dannie Richmond, 1974.
• Lester Young records first session as a leader (“Sometimes I’m Happy”), 1943.
• Two pianists born: Earl Hines 1903 in Duquesne, PA, and Michel Petrucciani 1962 in Orange, France.

December 29

• Tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano born 1952 in Cleveland, OH.
• Pianist Art Tatum records “Without A Song,” 1953.
• Snub Mosely born 1909 in Little Rock, AR.

Source: Smithsonian Jazz