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Cat Anderson

William Alonzo "Cat" Anderson grew from a childhood in the Jenkins Orphanage to become the acclaimed lead trumpet player with Duke Ellington and one of the most recognized high-note trumpet players of all time. Born in Greenville, South Carolina, he was put in the orphanage after both his parents died during his childhood. He soon took on the name "Cat," that would stick for the rest of his life, for his fighting style at the orphanage. His music career began on larger horns, like the trombone and baritone, but when he showed considerable talent, the orphanage granted his wish: he received his first trumpet. Anderson grew to be a standout with the orphanage bands, and his first official departure from the orphanage was with a group of fellow Jenkins players that called themselves the Carolina Cotton Pickers. The group toured for awhile and recorded four tracks for Brunswick Records, but the band split up after a short while. After leaving the Cotton Pickers, Anderson played with groups including those of Claude Hopkins, Lucky Millinder, Erskine Hawkins and Lionel Hampton during the years of 1935-44. Cat's primary success and fame came as a trumpet player in Duke Ellington's big band during 1944-47, 1950-59 and off and on during 1961-71. He recorded on many of Duke's famous recordings. Ellington, always on the lookout for distinctive sounds, used Anderson's screamingly high trumpet acrobatics to sensational effect on several numbers, including "El Gato," "Trumpet No End," and "Jam with Sam." Anderson also performed and recorded with Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Hodges, and recorded several albums under his name. Cat Anderson one of the great trumpet players in jazz!

Source: James Nadal

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5
Album Review

Duke Ellington: Copenhagen 1958

Read "Copenhagen 1958" reviewed by Ken Dryden


Duke Ellington left a formidable discography at his death at the age of 75 in 1974, and it has expanded greatly with the number of concerts that have been uncovered and issued since then. This CD is drawn from two 1958 concerts at KB Hallen in Copenhagen, though they are not sourced from the original, long lost broadcast tapes, but dubs evidently made by a fan. What makes this a valuable find is that the band is in top form ...

5
Album Review

Duke Ellington: Copenhagen 1958

Read "Copenhagen 1958" reviewed by Jack Kenny


Duke Ellington hated flying so, in 1958, Ellington and Co sailed into Southampton UK to prepare for a tour of Europe. Before going on to Copenhagen, Ellington completed a tour of the UK, taking in Leeds where he met Queen Elizabeth, an event which eventually resulted in the “Queen's Suite." Earlier in the year, his strange obsession with royalty had produced a piece for Princess Margaret, “Princess Blue'" The band was particularly strong in this part of its ...

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90
Interview

Happy Birthday, Cat Anderson!

Happy Birthday, Cat Anderson!

Source: Riffs on Jazz by John Anderson

Jazz trumpeter William “Cat" Anderson (1916-1981) was born in Greenville, South Carolina. His parents died when he was only four years old, so Cat grew up in an orphanage in Charleston. It was here that he learned how to play the trumpet. Fellow orphans gave him the nickname “Cat," not for his trumpet playing but for the way he fought on the playground. He played with various big bands in the late 1930s and early 1940s, including Claude Hopkins' and ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Copenhagen 1958

Storyville Records
2024

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Ellingtonia

El Gallo Rojo
1982

buy

Old Folks

El Gallo Rojo
1980

buy

Jazz Gala 79

Past Perfect Silver Line
1979

buy

Cat Speaks

El Gallo Rojo
1977

buy

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