Jerry Blake

Jerry Blake ( born January 23, 1908 in Gary (Indiana) Jacinto Chabania, † December 31, 1961 ) was an American clarinettist and alto saxophonist of the swing jazz.

Biography

Jerry Blake grew up in Nashville and initially learned violin before he moved to the Holzblasnstrumenten. In 1924, he was with the Sells - Fioto Circus Band, with which he came to Chicago; where he played in 1925 in Al Wynn's band.

He then worked with Bobby Lee and Charlie Turner, toured 1928/29, through Europe in the band of Sam Wooding. In the 1930s, he has worked with Chick Webb, Zack Whyte and Don Redman ( 1933-34 ) before he train back to Europe to 1934/35 play there with Willie Lewis. Again in the United States, he worked in the bands of Claude Hopkins, Fletcher Henderson ( 1936-38 ) and Cab Calloway ( 1938-42 ), where he also served as musical director of the band.

In the early 1940s played Blake at Count Basie, Earl Hines, Lionel Hampton and again in Redman; to 1943, Blake had a nervous breakdown and was not henceforth be able to practice his profession. The rest of his life he spent in psychiatric institutions.

Blake, who also played alto saxophone and worked as an arranger, was known for his Growl effect. Included " Got the Jitters " Among his most famous solo contributions ( Don Redman ), " Fare Thee Well to Harlem " ( Benny Morton, 1934), "Rose Room" ( Fletcher Henderson, 1937) and " A Smooth One" (Cab Calloway, 1941).

Web link / source

• Jerry Blake biography by Scott Yanow at All Music guide

Lexical entry

• John Jorgensen, Erik Wiedemann: Jazz Encyclopedia. Munich, Mosaic, 1967

Itemization

• Jazz saxophonist
• Jazz clarinetist
• Person (Gary, Indiana)
• American musician
• Born in 1908
• Died in 1961
• Man