Wallace Davenport

World-renowned trumpeter, Wallace Davenport, was adept at a variety of styles in addition to the traditional jazz that he was most famous for in his native New Orleans. He played in brass bands as a young man; branched out into swing and bebop when jazz itself was changing, before returning to his roots in his later years. Davenport's resume reads like the history of jazz itself. The list of musicians he performed and/or recorded with include the Young Tuxedo Brass Band, Oscar “Papa” Celestin, Lionel Hampton, Count Basie, Ray Charles, Lloyd Price, the Zion Harmonizers, Earl “Fatha” Hines, Quincy Jones, Sammy Davis, Jr., Arthur Prysock, Phil Upchurch, and Frank Sinatra. He even recorded the blues with Junior Wells on the harmonica player's 1968 release, “Coming At You.” Wallace Davenport was born on June 30, 1925. His mother gave him his first trumpet when he was seven years old and he was known to say on that day, “I threw down my baseball bat and picked up my horn.” His formal musical education began at Tommy Lafon Elementary School but continued on the streets of New Orleans where he played with the Young Tuxedo Brass Band in 1938 and with the legendary cornetist Oscar “Papa” Celestin in 1941. At the age of 17, he joined the navy when the United States entered World War II. During his tour of duty, he spent four years in the Navy Band. In 1953, he met vibraphonist Lionel Hampton at a New Orleans nightclub where he was promptly invited to join Hampton's band. He performed with Hampton for several years and recorded two albums during the 1950's “Lionel Hampton Live in Vienna-Volumes 1 and 2.” He would return to perform and record again and again with Hampton resulting in two more albums in the 1960s, one in the 1970s and one in the 1990s. His last recording with Hampton was the 2001 release, “Flying Home.” He also spent four years the 1960s touring with Count Basie where he served as first trumpet in the great bandleader's orchestra. That association led to a number of recordings including “Live at the Sands,” recorded in 1966 when the Basie band was opening for and supporting Frank Sinatra. Davenport also appears on the second collaborative studio recording between Sinatra and Basie, the 1964 release, “It Might As Well Be Swing.” However, Davenport's greatest claim to fame outside of New Orleans has to be his stint as trumpeter and bandleader for Ray Charles.

He toured with the singer's big band and appeared on some of his more popular recordings until personal problems temporarily derailed Charles' career in 1965. In 1969, Davenport returned home for good performing with both jazz and gospel groups as a leader and sideman. Throughout the early part of the 1970s, he recorded for his own label, My Jazz. Davenport also released several albums as a leader on other labels beginning in 1972 with “Darkness on the Delta.” He continued to tour and record occasionally outside of New Orleans, traveling to Europe with New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival impresario George Wein in 1974. In 1976, he recorded “The Wild Man From Texas” with tenor saxophonist Arnett Cobb. He stands out on Earl “Fatha” Hines' 1975 album “In New Orleans,” where he appears with other local notables like bassist Lloyd Lambert, clarinetist Orange Kellin and drummer Louis Barbarin on the great pianist's foray into New Orleans jazz. Davenport also sings two numbers on that album. Davenport was a devoted Christian and it was often reflected in his music. In the 1970s, he formed his own gospel group, the Wallace Davenport Gospel Singers. He arranged versions of religious standards for the group. In later years, he also performed with the Zion Harmonizers.