Jazz Articles about Leslie Drayton

About Leslie Drayton

Album Review

He's known as one of the founding jazz fathers of Hammond B-3 organ funk, but Jimmy Smith has always played the blues. Born in December 1928 in a suburb west of Philadelphia, Smith has been performing since he was 12, at that time in a song and dance act with his father. After a stint in the navy, Smith took advantage of the GI Bill to study bass, piano and music theory upon his service discharge. During this period Smith ...

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Album Review

The Leslie Drayton Orchestra: By Request

by Jack Bowers
June 1, 1999

By Request encompasses more than a dozen songs recorded on at least four occasions some years ago by trumpeter Leslie Drayton’s orchestra; I can’t say how much of what is included was previously released, but unless you’re an ardent and well–informed connoisseur of the big–band scene, the chances are better than even that Drayton’s gregarious charts (he arranged everything and wrote all but “Stormy Monday”) will be as fresh and charming to you as they were to me. He adroitly ...

Album Review

Leslie Drayton: Urbanesque

by Dave Hughes
February 1, 1999

While the saxophone, keyboards, and guitar are still the most common lead voices heard in the contemporary jazz genre, more and more trumpeters are trying to claim a place for their instrument on the airwaves. While many turn to harmon mutes to make their voice softer and mellower, Leslie Drayton presents his wide-open trumpet and flugelhorn in a pleasing collection of all original material. Drayton occasionally enlists a saxophonist or a vibraphonist to share the lead lines, and ...