Georgie Auld (May 19, 1919 – January 8, 1990) was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader. His saxophone shows up on some of the greatest sides of the Big Band Era. Be it small group settings or in the backdrop of a big band, Auld could adapt his expressive style to a wide variety of moods and contexts.
Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto, Canada, and
moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. Before the family left Canada, Auld's
parents gave him a saxophone, which he taught himself to play and began to
entertain guests in the family saloon.
When only 7 years old he was receiving several dollars a week
in tips and became convinced that he could earn a living as a musician.
Altwerger--who later changed his name to Auld for stage purposes--formed a band
in New York when he was 13. Began playing alto clarinet in 1930 and won a Rudy Wiedoft
scholarship in 1931. From alto sax he switched to tenor sax in 1935 after hearing a Coleman
Hawkins recording.
He became a member of Bunny Berigan's orchestra in 1937
and remained with Berigan until early December of 1938. Later that same month
Auld joined Artie Shaw's orchestra and began a grueling schedule of record
dates and engagements at the most popular hotels and ballrooms in the country.
This band was at the top of its game, broadcasting often from the Cafe' Rouge
of the Hotel Pennsylvania and The Blue Room of the Hotel Lincoln in New York as
well as the Summer Terrace Room of the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Boston. It was
also heard regularly on the Old Gold "Melody And Madness" radio show.
Auld eventually led the band for nearly three months after the moody Artie Shaw
took one of his sojourns away from the music business. In January of 1940 the
song Juke Box Jump was recorded by the former Artie Shaw
band now under the leadership of Auld.
band now under the leadership of Auld.
Georgie Auld was with Jan Savitt briefly in 1940. What
grabbed the attention of jazz buffs that same year was his participation on
several sessions with a cast of all-stars who backed Billie Holiday in
September and October. In November he joined Benny Goodman's aggregation
remaining with him for about a year. Goodman immediately used Auld as part of
the Benny Goodman Sextet as on November 7th the group waxed the tune Wholly
Cats. Along with Charlie Christian, Cootie Williams, and on occasion Count
Basie on piano, this group created some of the most brilliant and exciting
small group jazz sides to come out of the big band era. After departing
Goodman, Auld joined yet another band led by Artie Shaw from 1941 to 1942.
After a stint in the Army in '43, he formed his own big band leading it from
1944-6.
This Georgie Auld Orchestra recorded some interesting
sides that at times used elements of bebop but for the most part still retained
a melodic flowing rhythm. In 1946 doctors discovered that Auld had
tuberculosis. He was only semi active for a few years, until his
health recovered, but in 1948 formed a 10-piece band, his style having changed to that of the more modern bebop style players. Later that year, he disbanded and opened his own club in New York called The Troubadour on 52nd Street and appeared in the Broadway show The Rat Race. In 1950 he briefly worked with Count Basie's sextet.
health recovered, but in 1948 formed a 10-piece band, his style having changed to that of the more modern bebop style players. Later that year, he disbanded and opened his own club in New York called The Troubadour on 52nd Street and appeared in the Broadway show The Rat Race. In 1950 he briefly worked with Count Basie's sextet.
In 1951 Auld moved back to California because of health
issues and while living in Hollywood in 1954 opened another night club called
the Melody Room. In 1955 and '56 he once again had his own big band, this a
20-piece group that featured Jimmie Lunceford style arrangements written
by Billy May. In 1958 he returned to New York City to do studio work and record, making numerous appearances on Art Ford’s TV “Jazz Party”. Auld also played some rock´n roll working for Alan Freed in 1959.
by Billy May. In 1958 he returned to New York City to do studio work and record, making numerous appearances on Art Ford’s TV “Jazz Party”. Auld also played some rock´n roll working for Alan Freed in 1959.
In 1967 he became music director for Tony Martin,
freelanced as a studio musician and toured frequently in Japan and Europe. By
1975 had recorded nearly 20 albums. He can be heard playing sax on the 1968
Ella Fitzgerald album 30 by Ella. In 1977 he played a bandleader in the motion picture New
York, New York, starring Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro and also acted as a technical
consultant for the film.
He last appeared in Los Angeles in April, 1989, at the
Grand Avenue Bar of the Biltmore Hotel where Times jazz critic Leonard Feather
found "renewed evidence of a sound and style that have defied the inroads
of time." Auld died on January 8, 1990, in Palm Springs, California, aged
70.
(Edited from various sources mainly SwingMusic net.)
Here's Georgie Auld on tenor sax with Les Brown and his Band of
Renown at the "1983 Aurex Jazz Festival"
1 comment:
For “Georgie Auld - Swingin' In The Land Of Hi-Fi” go here:
https://www.mediafire.com/file/3u2jcrw59zrf9x4/G.Auld__Swingin.rar/file
1 In The Land Of Hi-Fi 4:15
2 For You 2:23
3 Until the Real Thing Comes Along 2:19
4 Tippin' In 3:06
5 Sunday Kind Of Love 2:22
6 I May Be Wrong 3:53
7 Swingin' In The Moore Park 3:02
8 If I Loved You 2:46
9 Dinah 2:34
10 They Can't Take That Away From Me 2:45
11 Love Is Just Around the Corner 3:53
12 My Blue Heaven 2:54
13 (Back Home Again In) Indiana 2:53
14 Blue Lou 2:27
15 Too Marvelous For Words 2:45
16 Sweet Sue 2:48
17 Laura 2:27
18 I Get A Kick Out Of You 2:10
19 Rosetta 2:50
20 Sweet Lorraine 2:28
21 Old Rockin' Chair 2:22
22 Got A Date With An Angel 2:27
23 Prisoners Song 3:06
24 Frankie And Johnny 2:48
Tracks 1-12 are Georgie Auld And His Orchestra – In The Land Of Hi-Fi.(1955)
Tracks 13-24 are Georgie Auld And His Orchestra – Dancing In The Land Of Hi-Fi.(1956)
Musicians in the Georgie Auld orchestra & on this disc include Maynard Ferguson, Skeets Herfurt, Frank Rosolino, Si Zentner & Barney Kessel to name a few. When “In The Land Of Hi-Fi” was originally issued which makes up the first half of this disc, it was described as a jazz classic.
A big thank you to ACM2 blog for original post.
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