Duke Pearson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Columbus Calvin Pearson Jr. |
| Born | (1932-08-17)August 17, 1932 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S |
| Died | August 4, 1980(1980-08-04) (aged 47) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
|
| Instrument | Piano |
| Years active | 1950s–1980 |
| Labels | |
Columbus Calvin "Duke"Pearson Jr. (August 17, 1932 – August 4, 1980)[1] was an Americanjazz pianist and composer.Allmusic describes him as having a "big part in shaping theBlue Note label'shard bop direction in the 1960s as a record producer."[2]
Pearson was born Columbus Calvin Pearson Jr. inAtlanta, Georgia,[1] to Columbus Calvin and Emily Pearson. The moniker "Duke" was given to him by his uncle, who was a great admirer ofDuke Ellington. Before he was six, his mother started giving him piano lessons. He studied the instrument until he was twelve,[3] when he took an interest in brass instruments:mellophone,baritone horn and ultimately trumpet. He was so fond of the trumpet that through high school and college he neglected the piano. He attendedClark College while also playing trumpet in groups in the Atlanta area. While in the U.S. Army, during his 1953–54 draft, he continued to play trumpet and met, among others, the pianistWynton Kelly.[4] Pearson himself confessed in a 1959 interview that he was "so spoiled by Kelly's good piano" that he decided to switch to piano again.[3] Also, it seems that dental problems forced him to give up brass instruments.[2]
Pearson performed with different ensembles in Georgia andFlorida, including withTab Smith andLittle Willie John, before he moved to New York City in January 1959. He had, however, been able to get at least one song, "Tribute to Brownie" (dedicated toClifford Brown), recorded by theCannonball Adderley Quintet on their 1957 album,Sophisticated Swing. In New York, Pearson gained the attention of the trumpeterDonald Byrd, who saw Pearson performing with theArt Farmer/Benny Golson Sextet (known asthe Jazztet). Shortly afterwards, Byrd asked Pearson to join his newly formed band, the Donald Byrd–Pepper Adams Quintet. Pearson was also the accompanist forNancy Wilson on tour in 1961. During that same year, Pearson became ill before a Byrd-Adams show, and a newcomer,Herbie Hancock, took over for him. Hancock eventually took over the position permanently.[5]
On the 1963 Byrd albumA New Perspective, Pearson arranged four tracks, including "Cristo Redentor", which became a hit. The composition, Pearson later commented, was inspired by a trip he took to Brazil while touring with Wilson.[5] Also that year, after the death ofIke Quebec, Pearson took over his position asA&R man of Blue Note.[5] From that year until 1970, Pearson was a frequentsession musician and producer for numerous Blue Note albums while also recording his own albums as bandleader. This was odd, since Pearson also recorded with his co-ledbig band with Byrd forAtlantic Records, a stipulation he made sure was in his Atlantic contract.[5] The Byrd-Pearson band consisted of musicians such asChick Corea,Pepper Adams,Randy Brecker, andGarnett Brown; the latter three were members also of theThad Jones-Mel Lewis band that played the same night club, TheVillage Vanguard, but on different nights. Between the two ensembles, the musicians performed at their own discretion.
Pearson's compositions include the now standard, frequently covered "Jeannine", composed c. 1960. An early cover of "Jeannine" appears on theCannonball Adderley albumThem Dirty Blues, recorded in February 1960; the song was also covered byDonald Byrd on the albumAt the Half Note Cafe, recorded in November 1960. Avocalese version with lyrics byOscar Brown, Jr. was recorded byEddie Jefferson on the albumThe Main Main, recorded in October 1974,[6] and was covered onThe Manhattan Transfer's 1984 albumBop Doo-Wopp. TheSteve Lehman Trio recorded the song on their 2011 albumDialect Fluorescent.
As a small side project at Blue Note, Pearson penned the liner notes forGrant Green’s 1963 album,Idle Moments. He was the pianist for the recording. Having also composed the album’s title track, he wrote, “I wonder while listening to this recording, just what the people involved were thinking of while idling away (so to speak). The dreamlike mood that prevails gave me the idea of naming this tuneIdle Moments.”
Pearson eventually retired from his position with Blue Note in 1971 after personnel changes were made; co-founderAlfred Lion retired in 1967 after the label was sold toLiberty Records the previous year, and co-founderFrancis Wolff died in 1971. Pearson opted to teach atClark College in 1971, toured withCarmen McRae andJoe Williams through 1973, and eventually re-formed his big band during that time.
He was diagnosed withmultiple sclerosis in the 1970s, from which he died in 1980 at Atlanta Veterans Hospital.[5]
| Year recorded | Year released | Title | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | Profile | Blue Note | Trio, withGene Taylor (bass),Lex Humphries (drums) | |
| 1959 | 1960 | Tender Feelin's | Blue Note | Trio, withGene Taylor (bass),Lex Humphries (drums) |
| 1961 | 1968 | Angel Eyes | Polydor | Also released asBags Groove onBlack Lion with 3 alternative takes |
| 1961 | 1970 | Dedication! | Prestige | Reissued by Black Lion in 1989 underFreddie Hubbard's name asMinor Mishap |
| 1962 | Hush! | Jazztime | ||
| 1964 | Wahoo! | Blue Note | ||
| 1965 | 1966 | Honeybuns | Atlantic | |
| 1966 | Prairie Dog | Atlantic | ||
| 1966 | 1967 | Sweet Honey Bee | Blue Note | |
| 1967 | 1968 | The Right Touch | Blue Note | |
| 1967 | 1968 | Introducing Duke Pearson's Big Band | Blue Note | |
| 1968 | The Phantom | Blue Note | ||
| 1968 | 1969 | Now Hear This | Blue Note | |
| 1969 | How Insensitive | Blue Note | ||
| 1969 | Merry Ole Soul | Blue Note | ||
| 1968–70 | 1996 | I Don't Care Who Knows It | Blue Note | |
| 1970 | 1974 | It Could Only Happen with You | Blue Note |
WithDonald Byrd
WithJohnny Coles
WithGrant Green
WithBobby Hutcherson
WithThad Jones/Pepper Adams Quintet
WithCarmen McRae
