This Week in Jazz History: July 29 to August 4

July 29

• Pianist/composer John Lewis records The Wonderful World of Jazz, 1960.
• Guitarist Charlie Christian born 1916 in Dallas, TX.
• Arranger/saxophonist Don Redman born 1900 in Piedmont, W.VA.

July 30

• Saxophonist James Spaulding born 1937 in Indianapolis, IN.
• Drummer Vernel Fournier born 1928 in New Orleans, LA.
• Charles Mingus records solo piano album, 1963.

July 31

• Pianist Hank Jones born 1918 in Vicksburg, MS.
• Guitarist Kenny Burrell born 1931 in Detroit, MI.
• Clarinetist Artie Shaw’s Gramercy Five with trumpeter Roy Eldridge and pianist Dodo Marmorosa record “Scuttlebutt,” 1945.

August 1

• Pianist/vocalist Fats Waller records “Until The Real Thing Comes Along,” 1936.
• Glenn Miller records “In The Mood,” 1939.
• Drummer/composer Max Roach records “Percussion Bittersweet,” 1961.

August 2

• Tenor saxophonist Big Nick Nicholas born 1922 in Lansing, MI.
• Trumpeter Clifford Brown and drummer Max Roach record “Parisian Thoroughfare,” 1954.
• The Benny Goodman Quartet records “Smiles,” 1937.

August 3

• Alto saxophonist Greg Osby born 1960 in St. Louis, MO.
• Trumpeter/arranger Charlie Shavers born 1917 in New York, NY.
• Tenor saxophonist/composer Wayne Shorter records JuJu with pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Reggie Workman, and drummer Elvin Jones, 1964.

August 4

• Louis Armstrong born 1901 in New Orleans, LA.
• Guitarist Herb Ellis born 1921 in Farmersville, TX.
• Count Basie’s band records “Song of the Islands,” featuring trumpeter Buck Clayton and tenor saxophonist Lester Young, 1939.

Source: Smithsonian Jazz