All About Jazz is celebrating Kai Winding's birthday today!
Trombonist Kai Christen Winding (pronounced ki-win-ding) was one of the founding fathers of be-bop music and truly one of the finest-ever jazz trombonists.
As a sideman to bop’s reigning kings Fats Navarro, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and Tadd Dameron he was more a bridesmaid than a bride. Winding recorded too infrequently as a leader during this period and none of his compositions ever really caught on. Indeed, he was adept at putting a defining stamp on others’ compositions a trait he picked up while outlining the artistry of Stan Kenton’s sound during the mid... Read more.