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Jimmy Wilkins
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Jimmy Wilkins (1921-2018)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Jimmy Wilkins, the trombone-playing brother of arranger-saxophonist Ernie Wilkins and the last surviving member of Count Basie's original New Testament Band launched in 1951, died August 24. He was 97. In recent years, Jimmy led a big band in Las Vegas using arrangements by his brother Ernie and Frank Foster. Jimmy and I spoke every six months or so. Our last conversation was in July. I'll miss him and his Count Basie stories. Here's my entire JazzWax interview with Jimmy: ...
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Interview: Jimmy Wilkins (Part 3)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
For Jimmy Wilkins and his brother Ernie, receiving a call from Clark Terry in 1951 to join Count Basie's new band in New York was a stroke of incredible luck. Both musicians were jumping from one territory band to another trying to keep the paychecks coming. But big bands were folding fast. Small swing groups weren't faring much better. In 1950, Basie's had been working with a sextet that included Terry (tp),Buddy DeFranco (cl), Wardell Gray (ts), Freddie Green (g), ...
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Interview: Jimmy Wilkins (Part 2)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Most of us think of jazz's evolution after World War II as one big surge forward as the years progressed. In truth there were economic ups and downs, triumphs and setbacks as well as opportunities and dead ends. Success often was the product of relentless hard work, talent and good fortune—such as being in the right place at the right time. It also didn't hurt to have lots of friends and a brother or two in the business to improve ...
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Interview: Jimmy Wilkins (Part 1)
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Jimmy Wilkins is the younger brother of Ernie Wilkins, the prolific composer and big band arranger who died in 1999. Today, Jimmy lives outside of Las Vegas and leads a big band in Henderson, Nev., carrying on his brother's legacy. The band's book features wow-pow charts by his brother and Frank Wess. Jimmy's recording career as a trombonist stopped in 1955 before resuming in 1975. But in the 1950s, Jimmy had quite a run. He was in Count Basie's band ...
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Notes from the Net: Jimmy Wilkins Profiled; Rollins, Elling and Botti on the Road; Plus News, Reviews, Interviews, and More
Source:
St. Louis Jazz Notes by Dean Minderman
Here's the latest compilation of assorted news briefs and links related to jazz, improvisation, and creative music in St. Louis, including news of musicians originally from the Gateway City, recent visitors, and coming attractions, plus assorted other items of interest:* Starting with some Miles Davis-related items, it seems that the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Davis' Kind of Blue continues without pause, as KoB drummer Jimmy Cobb's all-star So What band played at the Saratoga Performing Arts ...
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Jimmy Wilkins
Instrument: Trombone
Born: 1921
Died: August 24, 2018
