Nat Pierce (July 16, 1925 – June 10, 1992) was an American jazz pianist and prolific composer and arranger, perhaps best known for being pianist and arranger for the Woody Herman band from 1951 to 1955. Pieces by Pierce were predominantly created for use in big bands.
Nat Pierce had a long, distinguished, somewhat low-profile career as a champion of latter-day big-band swing, serving as the co-leader of Los Angeles' crack Frank Capp-Nat Pierce Juggernaut and an arranger for several well-known big bands and solo artists. His scores created an irresistible force when allied with a swinging, pushing drummer like Capp, often hewing tightly to the loping drive and tight ensemble of the post-'50s Count Basie orchestra. Likewise, Pierce's spare, tasty piano style not only has been compared to that of Basie, he also subbed very capably for the great man off and on from the late '50s until Basie's death in 1984.
Nathaniel Pierce Blish Jr., was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. United States. He studied music at the New England Conservatory of Music back home in Massachusetts, worked with local Boston bands, including one led by Shorty Sherock. After playing eith Larry Clinton in 1948, he ran his own part-time big band featuring Charlie Mariano from 1949 to 1951. Having already started shopping arrangements to Basie and Woody Herman, he joined Herman's Third Herd in 1951 as pianist/arranger, remaining until 1955. During the same period he led a group with Dick Collins. He also arranged the music for The Sound of Jazz, a 1954 CBS television special hosted by John Crosby. Pierce settled in New York City, where he became a busy freelance arranger, recording pianist, and occasional leader of bands, working with Ruby Braff, Lester Young, Ella Fitzgerald, Quincy Jones, Coleman Hawkins, Pee Wee Russell, and Lester Young.Pierce also took part in many recording sessions.
Two of his most famous projects took place in 1957, writing the arrangements for The Sound of Jazz television show, including that of his own composition "Open All Night.". He also played piano with the Basie rhythm section on the first ear-opening Lambert, Hendricks & Ross album Sing a Song of Basie. Pierce was also the last band leader to perform in the old Savoy Ballroom in New York City. In 1961, Pierce re-joined Herman and played a major role in lifting the band into one of its peak periods, serving as chief arranger, road manager, and talent scout until 1966. Pierce settled in Los Angeles in 1971 and resumed his freelancing ways, arranging for Anita O'Day, Carmen McRae, Earl Hines, and others, working with the bands of Louie Bellson and Bill Berry, reuniting with Herman, and substituting for Basie and Stan Kenton on occasion.
In 1975 Pierce joined forces with Capp to form the Capp-Pierce Juggernaut band, which drew its personnel from the best Los Angeles session players out to decompress from their studio gigs. The band recorded a number of swinging albums for the Concord Jazz label, sometimes with guest vocalists like Joe Williams and Ernestine Anderson. Pierce continued to co-lead the Juggernaut which performed at clubs throughout the Los Angeles area, and appeared regularly at events like the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl and the Malibu Arts Festival until his death, while also making a brief appearance in the 1977 film New York, New York, touring Europe in 1980 and 1984 as a member of the Countsmen, and recording frequently for Concord as a sideman for Scott Hamilton, Jake Hanna, and others.
He died of complications from an abdominal infection at the Kaiser Permanente Hospital, in Los Angeles, California, June 10, 1992. He was 66 years old.
(Edited from AllMusic, The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, Wikipedia & The New York Times)
