Herbert Horatio Nichols (3 January 1919 – 12 April 1963) was
an American jazz pianist and composer who wrote the jazz standard "Lady
Sings the Blues". Obscure during his lifetime, he is now highly regarded by
many musicians and critics.
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After serving in World War II, Nichols played with a number
of
different groups and was in on the ground floor of the bebop scene.
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However, to pay the bills he later focused on Dixieland
ensembles; his own music -- a blend of Dixieland, swing, West Indian folk,
Monk-like angularity, European classical harmonies via Satie and Bartók, and
unorthodox structures -- was simply too unclassifiable and complex to make much
sense to jazz audiences of the time. Mary Lou Williams was the first to record
a Nichols composition -- "Stennell," retitled "Opus Z," in
1951; yet aside from the song he wrote for Billie Holiday, "Lady Sings the
Blues," none of Nichols' work got enough attention to really catch on.
Here’s “Lady Sings The Blues” from above album.
Nichols never played standards, or wrote his tunes over
their chords, often breaking away from the 32-bar AABA format of Broadway and
Tin Pan Alley songwriting, to which even Monk’s compositions clung for
comprehensibility’s sake. The drum parts are intricately woven into the music,
and Nichols’ solos elliptically
paraphrase his melodies rather than blowing
through the changes. There is intelligence, passion, and confident iconoclasm
in every phrase, but precious little showmanship — either in the music or the
man.
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He signed with Blue Note and recorded three brilliant piano
trio albums from 1955-1956, adding another one for Bethlehem in late 1957.
Nichols languished in obscurity after those sessions, though; sadly, just when
he was beginning to find a following among several of the new things
adventurous, up-and-coming stars, he was stricken with leukaemia and died on
April 12, 1963.
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(Info compiled and edited from articles by Steve Huey @ All
Music, Franklin Bruno @ hilobrwow.com and Wikipedia)
2 comments:
For “Herbie Nichols - The Art of Herbie Nichols” go here:
http://www50.zippyshare.com/v/b8GZ4iFj/file.html
(4:12) 1. The Third World
(5:13) 2. Step Tempest
(4:23) 3. Blue Chopsticks
(4:43) 4. Cro-Magnon Nights
(4:44) 5. 2300 Skiddoo
(4:12) 6. Shuffle Montgomery
(4:23) 7. The Gig
(4:00) 8. Hangover Triangle
(4:24) 9. Lady Sings the Blues
(5:38) 10. House Party Starting
(6:04) 11. Sunday Stroll
(3:59) 12. Terpsichore
(4:11) 13. Riff Primitif
(4:53) 14. The Spinning Song
A big thank you to Giullia G @ Silky Denims for active link.
How grateful I am that Herbie made it to your hall of fame!
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