Hilton Jefferson

Hilton Jefferson ( born July 30, 1903 in Danbury, Connecticut, † November 14, 1968 in New York City ) was an American jazz saxophonist ( alto), who is mainly known from his time with the Cab Calloway Orchestra.

Jefferson had his first engagement at Julian Arthur Orchestra of Hay Theatre in Philadelphia ( where he played banjo), was from 1926 to 1928 ( and in 1932, 1934-1936 and 1939) in the big band of Claude Hopkins in New York City and then in the 1930s where by Chick Webb ( 1929/30, 1930 /1, 1936, 1938), with King Oliver (1930 ), Benny Carter, Fletcher Henderson ( 1932-1934 and 1936 bis 1936 to 1938 ), Red Allen (1934 ) McKinney 's Cotton Pickers and (1931 /2). 1940 to 1949 he headed the saxophones in the Cab Calloway Orchestra, in which he also played briefly in 1951. 1952/3 he was with Duke Ellington, where he replaced Willie Smith ( who in turn had replaced Johnny Hodges ). After that he worked during the day as a guard in a bank, but came occasionally to, among other things, with Rex Stewart, Noble Sissle, Buster Bailey, a reunion band of Fletcher Henderson musicians (1957) and Mercer Ellington.

While Jefferson himself was influenced by Benny Carter, called eg Ben Webster him as one of his idols (among other alto saxophonist Benny Carter and Johnny Hodges as ).