Sonny Berman

Saul " Sonny " Berman ( * April 21 1925 in New Haven, Connecticut; † January 16, 1947 in New York City ) was an American jazz trumpeter of bebop. He played with Serge Chaloff and Woody Herman.

" Sonny " Berman began at the age of sixteen years as a professional musician and worked with Georgie Auld, Louis Prima, Sonny Dunham, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, and Benny Goodman; most of all he will be remembered by his membership in the First Herd Woody Herman, in which he played the end of 1946 from February 1945 to the dissolution of the band. Berman noticed by his innovative solos and the versatility of his style. Sonny Berman died at the age of 22 in New York City probably due to a drug overdose. As part of the bebop era, he was just about to create a reputation through their own recordings. At the Woodchopper 's Holiday session he played on January 24, 1946 with bop musicians to Serge Chaloff a title Ciretose, Down With Up, and The Slumbering Giant Hoggimous Higgimous.

Discography

• Sidewalks of Cuba ( with Woody Herman ), 1946
• Curbstone Scuffle, 1947
• Woodchopper 's Holiday, January 24, 1946 Jam Session with Al Cohn, Eddie Safranski, Ralph Burns, Serge Chaloff, Earl Swope, Marky Markowitz, Don Lamond

Links / sources

• All Music
• Biographical note by Eugene Chadbourne at vervemusic.com