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Vi Redd
From her performances with the legendary Count Basie to her personal friendship with the late Sarah Vaughn, Ms. Redd is well-known and well-respected within the annals of jazz. Daughter of New Orleans jazz drummer and Clef Club co-founder, Alton Redd, Vi Redd was born in Los Angeles and was deeply influenced during her formative years by her father who was one of the paramount figures on the Central Avenue jazz scene. Another dominant musical mentor was her aunt, Elma Hightower, one of the most sought after music teachers in the Los Angeles area during the same time. Under her aunt's watchful eye and guidance, Ms. Redd picked up the saxophone as a child and hasn't put it down since.
Redd is a Cal State LA graduate, and went on to earn a teaching certificate from USC. She relocated to Berkeley, CA during the 60's and 70's and taught as a classroom teacher for many years, upon returning to Los Angeles.
Vi Redd is certainly one of the more elusive figures in jazz, which has only added to her appeal which for collectors is based on her two excellent efforts as leader “Bird Call,” (’63) and her most prominent from 1965 “Lady Soul.” Source: James Nadal
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More Fall Releases Plus Birthday Shoutouts To Lovie Austin, Vi Redd, Emily Remler & More
by Mary Foster Conklin
This broadcast includes new releases from Audrey Ochoa, Shuteen Erdenebaatar, Maddie Vogler, Teri Parker, Brandon Sanders featuring Jazzmeia Horn, vocalists Darden Purcell, plus a single from Samara Joy, with birthday shoutouts to Lovie Austin, Vi Redd, Emily Remler, Bobby Short, Catherine Russell, Kait Dunton, Norma Winstone and Ingrid Laubrock, among others. Thanks for listening and please support the artists you hear by seeing them live and online. Purchase their music so they can continue to distract, comfort, provoke and inspire.
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Born in 1928, Elvira Louise Redd Vi Redd grew up in a household full of music and was influenced greatly by her father, jazz musician Alton Redd. She picked up the saxophone at age 12 and began performing professionally at the age of 20. At 34, she became the first female instrumentalist to headline at a jazz festival. In spite of the fact that Vi became an accomplished saxophonist who performed with well-known artists such as Count Basie, ...
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