Isaac M. "Ike" Carpenter (1920–1998) was a
popular American Jazz bandleader and pianist active in the 1940s and 1950s,
most noted for his success in nightclubs on the West Coast during the
post-World War II rise in popularity of American Jazz music.
Isaac Monroe Carpenter was born on March 11, 1920 in
Durham, North Carolina, the son of Thomas E. Carpenter and Lucy A. Howard. He was
apparently performing on piano in college bands during the mid- '30s when he
would have only been about 13-years-old. Following his college graduation he
performed with several bandleaders including Johnny Davis.
From 1944, Carpenter worked as a pianist in bandleader
Boyd Raeburn's first influential jazz outfit. This relationship lasted a bit
more than a year, after which Carpenter started up the first of his own bands,
basing himself on the east coast. He led an octet for the most part during this
period, relocating to Hollywood in 1947. Carpenter crafted nearly two dozen
different sides between then and the mid '50s. His large group was finally
reduced to unwanted lumber in 1956; the pianist literally chilled out by going
to work as accompanist for skaters in the Ice Capades for the next few years.
The big band of Ike Carpenter was heavily influenced by the
sound and style of Duke Ellington, even recording a cover version of that
band's signature tune, "Take the 'A' Train," as well as other
material heavily associated with the Duke, such as his son Mercer Ellington's
nostalgic composition entitled "Things Ain't What They Used to Be."
But the most famous record created by Carpenter and company during a decade of
recording activity beginning in 1945 was "Pachuco Hop," a tribute to
Mexican hipsters or hoodlums, depending on sociological perspective.
Often treated to the Japanese-sounding spelling of
"Pachuko Hop," this 1953 single originally released on the Alladin
label features ear-withering trumpet soloing from a young Maynard Ferguson.
Despite the assertion of some critics that the performances of Carpenter's
bands lacked jazz content, excellent soloists were often showcased. The
aforementioned version of "Take the 'A' Train," for example,
highlights a fine tenor sax solo by Lucky Thompson.
Carpenter led some small groups in the late '50s, then
basically seems to have shuttered his musical workshop. Record collectors from
various camps of stylistic interest have in a small way kept the contents from
going completely rusty. The band's output may have become too orientated toward
pop music in the later years for serious jazz fans, yet these types of tracks
have wound up appealing to a new breed of lounge and space age jazz fan.
The Mothers of Invention, the first band to feature
guitarist and composer Frank Zappa, would sometimes perform a cover version of
"Pachuco Hop" in the '60s, particularly in the early Greenwich
Village days when jazz heavies such as Rahsaan Roland Kirk and Archie Shepp
would sit in. Carpenter's band is featured in two musical variety films from
the '50s, Rhythm and Rhyme and Holiday Rhythm.
Ike was never married. Ike died in Durham on November 17,
1998, at age 78. He is buried in the Maplewood Cemetery in Durham. (Photos are very scarce but Info edited
from All Music & Wikipedia)
2 comments:
Where is the link?
Hello Oldman, You'll find a few posts without any links as I have not got any albums of that particular artist. I am still looking for Ike Carpenter records and have asked my record search group for some help. As of yet no luck. But keep watching ...one day I might get something!
Post a Comment