Otto Hardwick

James Otto Hardwick ( born May 31, 1904 in Washington DC; † August 5, 1970 ibid ), called Toby, was a saxophonist (alto, occasionally bass, baritone and soprano ) is an important long-standing member of the Duke Ellington Orchestra. In addition, he also played as a bass player.

Life and work

Hardwick started out as a bass player, but then switched to excitation by Duke Ellington 1920 alto saxophone, but he also played bass and violin occasionally later ( and also dominated clarinet next to it). In Ellington, a childhood friend, he already played in the first lineup of the band "The Washingtonians ", from 1919. In 1923 he went with them to New York, where Ellington line took over and where it three years in a nightclub in Times Square, the Kentucky Club played. Since the fun-loving Hardwick was not always very reliable, he was in the band the nickname " Toby ", and vice versa many band members owed ​​him her nickname. In 1928 he moved from Ellington to Paris, where he played in a band of bassist John Ricks, in the band of Nekka Shaw, with Sidney Bechet and Noble Sissle, 1929 was short at Chick Webb and led his own band in 1930 in New York ( in Hot Feet Club ), played at the time, also Fats Waller (1930 ), James P. Johnson and Count Basie. After a short time in Elmer Snowden in Small's Paradise in Harlem ( where he had played in 1922 in Washington and at the Washingtonians ), he returned in 1932 back to Ellington, Johnny Hodges, however, where had now taken its place as a soloist. He was in late 1940 with the legendary concert in Fargo, North Dakota. In May 1946, he left in a dispute of Ellington ( it was once the girlfriend of Hardwick, Hardwick also was tired of the constant traveling ) and retired - after he in 1947 some recordings as a leader, made ​​- from back of music. He worked on the tobacco farm of his father in Maryland and was a clerk in hotel management.

He is considered the co-author of Sophisticated Lady ( with Ellington and trombonist Lawrence Brown, first recording with his solo 1933), In a Sentimental Mood, Prelude to a Kiss, Hop Head ( with Ellington ), Down in Our Alley Blues ( with Ellington ).

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