Harlan Leonard

Harlan Leonard ( born July 2, 1905 in Kansas City, † 10 November 1983) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist and bandleader. He was with Jay McShann among the protagonists of the Kansas City jazz.

Life and work

Leonard began his career in 1923 in the Territory by George E. Lee band, joined in 1924 Benny Moten and went in 1931 with several other musicians of this band to Thamon Hayes ' Kansas City Rockets. This band was dissolved in 1934, however, was the root of the new Moten Orchestra. After Moten's death in 1935, Leonard founded his own formation, in which he took several Moten musicians. Harlan Leonard and his Rockets were soon among the most famous bands in Kansas City and were the strongest rivals of the band of Jay McShann after the departure of the Basie band to New York. This first volume of Leonard fell apart in 1936; he took over 1937/38, the musicians of the Jimmy Keith band for a start-up. During this time Leonards band often performed in clubs Dreamland, Street # s Blue Room and the Century Room.

1938 was one for five weeks, the young Charlie Parker to the band, but was dismissed because of unreliability of Leonard. The band played in 1940 in Chicago in the Aragon and Savoy Ballroom; in this period were also their first recording sessions for Victor Records. Band was singer Myra Taylor (I Do not Want to Set the World on Fire ). Then they returned to Kansas City in 1941, where they had a commitment to the College Inn and toured the Midwest. The end of 1941 they went to New York City, where they performed at the Municipal Auditorium. However, they were not very successful and returned to Kansas. In early 1943, Leonard went with the band on a tour to the West Coast; they had in addition to numerous One Nighters a one-year commitment to the Club Alabam in Los Angeles, where he also accompanied the singer Little Miss Cornshucks. Then they played until 1946 exclusively in Kansas City.

From the formation exist only 23 recordings from 1940, as the title " Dig It ", " 400 Swing" and " Dameron Stomp ". Arranger was at this time the young Tadd Dameron, Ernie worked as a singer with Williams, whose style reminds Jimmy Rushing. Outstanding soloists, tenor Henry Bridges and the trombonist Fred Beckett. After the dissolution of the band Leonard lived in Los Angeles, joined occasionally in local clubs, such as the Shep 's Playhouse; after this commitment, Leonard retired from the music business and worked for the Internal Revenue Service.

Harlan Leonard and his Rockets was one of the connecting links between the swing and the subsequent bebop.

Auswahldiskographie

• Harlan Leonard and his Rockets 1940 ( Classics )