Eddie Sauter | |
|---|---|
![Clockwise from left: Eddie Sauter, Edwin Finckel, George Handy, Johnny Richards, Neal Hefti, and Ralph Burns at the Museum of Modern Art, New York c. 1947[1]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aRalph_Burns%2c_Edwin_A._Finckel%2c_George_Handy%2c_Neal_Hefti%2c_Johnny_Richards%2c_and_Eddie_Sauter%2c_Museum_of_Modern_Art%2c_New_York%2c_N.Y.%2c_ca._Mar._1947_(Gottlieb_856).jpg) Clockwise from left: Eddie Sauter,Edwin Finckel,George Handy,Johnny Richards,Neal Hefti, andRalph Burns at theMuseum of Modern Art, New York c. 1947[1] | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Edward Ernest Sauter |
| Born | (1914-12-02)December 2, 1914 Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Died | April 21, 1981(1981-04-21) (aged 66) New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz, swing |
| Occupation(s) | Arranger, composer |
| Years active | 1935–1960s |
Edward Ernest Sauter (December 2, 1914 – April 21, 1981) was an American composer and arranger during theswing era.[2]
Sauter studied music atColumbia University and theJuilliard School.[3] He began as a drummer and then played trumpet professionally, including withRed Norvo's orchestra. Eventually he became a full-time arranger for Norvo. He arranged and composed forArtie Shaw,Tommy Dorsey,Woody Herman, and especiallyBenny Goodman, earning a reputation for intricate work such as "Benny Rides Again", "Moonlight on the Ganges", and "Clarinet a la King".[4] A bout of tuberculosis contracted in 1942, however, forced a stay at the Summit Park Sanatorium inPomona, New York, and stalled his musical career for some time.[5]
From 1952 to 1958, Sauter was co-leader of theSauter-Finegan Orchestra. Between 1957 and 1959, he wasKurt Edelhagen's successor as leader of the SWF orchestra inBaden-Baden, Germany.[4] In 1961, he worked with tenor saxophonistStan Getz on the albumFocus,[4] a collaboration for which Sauter at Getz's commission wrote a suite of string compositions without primary melodies. This allowed Getz to improvise them in his customary style.Roy Haynes, the jazz drummer, appeared on "I'm Late, I'm Late", the only selection to use a non-string instrument other than Getz.
Sauter and Getzcollaborated again during Sauter's work composing the score for the filmMickey One (1965),[4] which starredWarren Beatty. Sauter's television composing includes the third season theme to Rod Serling'sNight Gallery. In 2003, Sauter was inducted into theBig Band and Jazz Hall of Fame.
Although Sauter is best known for jazz, he also orchestrated Broadway musicals such as1776,The Apple Tree, andIt's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman. OrchestratorJonathan Tunick said of Sauter's Broadway work: "Eddie did these marvelous things, always theatrical, always effective. And completely unlike anybody else."[6] His composition "World Without Time" is used as the theme music for the public affairs showThe Open Mind, originally hosted byRichard Heffner.
Sauter died of a heart attack inNyack, New York, on April 21, 1981.[7]
