Results for "Kai Winding"

Kai Winding

Born: May 18, 1922

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 1940s.

Percy France: Live from the West End

by Daniel Gould
August 27, 2026

 If you know Percy France, most likely you are a fan of “greasy" organ jazz, particularly on Blue Note Records during their classic era. He was an integral part of Jimmy Smith's Home Cookin' (1959) and Freddie Roach's Down to Earth (1962). Or perhaps you came to jazz through r&b acts like the Bill Doggett combo. The ...

Altin Sencalar

by Daniel Peck
July 10, 2026

Hailed by Stereophile Magazine for “sounding like the 21st-century grandchildren of JJ Johnson and Kai Winding" and praised by the International Trombone Associations Journal for his “virtuosity and melodic and harmonic mastery," Altin Sencalar is in high demand across the country as a performer, educator, and composer. We caught Altin on tour in support ...

Leigh Pilzer: Keep Holding On

by Jack Bowers
June 19, 2026

There are times when the friends you make can make a world of difference. That is certainly true of baritone saxophonist Leigh Pilzer's recording, Keep Holding On, whose trio format--admirable in its own way--is considerably enriched by a quartet of friends and colleagues whose expertise helps brighten even further five of the album's 11 already-impressive numbers. ...

Introducing Trombonist/Vocalist Hailey Brinnel

by Sanford Josephson
December 1, 2025

After being discharged from the Army in 1945, Pete Rugolo became the primary arranger for the Stan Kenton Band and is credited with keeping that band alive in an era when big band music was beginning to fade. In 1955, Rugolo created an album combining the vocal group, The Four Freshmen, with an all-star ...

Luna Horns: Afro Space Hotel

by Don Ball
November 30, 2025

Listening to Luna Horns' Afro Space Hotel is like stepping into your neighborhood pub and being overwhelmed by the band playing there, with horns blazing like the Jamaica band The Skatalites and a bassist of the Bootsy Collins variety. This is the debut album by Luna Horns, which was formed in 2023 by Tim Lowerson in Oslo, ...

Nick Finzer: The Jazz Orchestra Volume 1

by Carl Medsker
September 1, 2025

Listening chronologically to seven of Nick Finzer's preceding albums is enlightening and entertaining, making several aspects of his musicianship abundantly apparent. His trombone sound is full and expressive, his playing melodious and he can soulfully sing a ballad. Six albums, dating back to 2013, featured his highly talented sextet, a significant accomplishment that enhances the depth ...

Chuck Mangione: Back On Track

by Michael Ricci
July 26, 2025

This article first appeared on All About Jazz in June 1999... without embedded videos. For three decades, Chuck Mangione's infectious energy, unbridled enthusiasm, and pure joy have defined his deep passion for music. Born and raised in Rochester, New York, he first garnered attention playing with the Jazz Brothers alongside his older brother, Gap. ...

Altin Sencalar: Unleashed

by C. Andrew Hovan
April 19, 2025

Often overshadowed by other solo instruments, the trombone boasts a rich history in jazz--one so vast it could fill volumes. New Orleans, the birthplace of jazz, also gave rise to Kid Ory, a pioneer of the “tailgate" style of trombone playing. In the early 1900s, bandleaders often promoted their shows by parading through town on horse-drawn ...

Nanami Haruta: The Vibe

by Willard Jenkins
February 8, 2025

Unlike other members of the family of western instruments, the ranks of the trombone are a bit exclusive--perhaps even more exclusive in the art of the improvisers, the jazz landscape. Which is yet more reason to celebrate the arrival of a new trombone voice in jazz music. Her name is Nanami Haruta and she arrives at ...