Jazz Articles about Chu Berry

Herschel Evans and Chu Berry: the short careers of two tenor masters of the swing era

by Larry Slater
May 16, 2025

In the 1930's Coleman Hawkins' big sound and harmonic mastery ruled the roost, but there were tenor saxophonists who challenged Hawks throne, Two of these talented tenor players died before they had a chance to find fame: Chu Berry, and Herschel Evans. . Herschel Evans joined the Count Basie band In 1936, where he rose to prominence playing tenor saxophone alongside Lester Young .The Basie band of the late '30s was the first to feature a two tenor lineup: Lester ...

Chu Berry: Classic Columbia And Victor Sessions

by AAJ Staff
September 8, 2007

Chu Berry Classic Columbia And Victor Sessions Mosaic Records 2007

Loren Schoenberg gets to the heart of saxophonist Chu Berry's story near the end of his superlative liners when he notes that “Ghost Of A Chance," the 1940 ballad feature recorded by Cab Calloway's Orchestra in response to saxophonist Coleman Hawkins' immortal “Body and Soul," actually presents the one aspect of the tenor man's conception that doesn't date well. Since this ...

Chu Berry: Classic Columbia & Victor Sides

by Nic Jones
June 3, 2007

Chu Berry Classic Columbia & Victor Sides Mosaic Records 2007

This seven-disc set is both a summary of tenor saxophonist Chu Berry's tragically short life and an important contribution to jazz history. It is a “warts and all collection due to some of contexts in which Berry is heard, but in an odd way such contexts actually serve to accentuate his progressive vision and greatness; what we have here in bulk is the work ...