Jerome Richardson (December 25, 1920 – June 23, 2000) was an American jazz musician and woodwind player. He is cited as playing one of the earliest jazz flute recordings with his work on the 1949
Quincy Jones arranged song "Kingfish".[1]
Career
Starting from a young age, he first played alto saxophone, taking
Johnny Hodges and
Benny Carter as models.[1] By the age of fourteen, he was playing professionally around northern California, and also took up the flute. He studied music at
San Francisco State College.[2] While in the navy, he worked under
Marshal Royal in the 45-piece regimental band that was attached to the Navy's preflight training school for pilots at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California. After his discharge, he joined
Lionel Hampton`s band in 1949 before moving to New York in 1954. There, he played with
Oscar Pettiford and at Minton`s Playhouse doing combo work with
Kenny Burrell. He also worked at the
Roxy Theatre (New York City) in their
R&B productions.[1]
Richardson was the regular saxophonist in the Oscar Pettiford band that one night, being busy with studio recording work, saw him late for the gig at
Cafe Bohemia where
Cannonball Adderley and brother
Nat Adderley were present in the audience. Cannonball had taken his part and was inadvertantly discovered as a result.[1]
Jerome Richardson (December 25, 1920 – June 23, 2000) was an American jazz musician and woodwind player. He is cited as playing one of the earliest jazz flute recordings with his work on the 1949
Quincy Jones arranged song "Kingfish".[1]
Career
Starting from a young age, he first played alto saxophone, taking
Johnny Hodges and
Benny Carter as models.[1] By the age of fourteen, he was playing professionally around northern California, and also took up the flute. He studied music at
San Francisco State College.[2] While in the navy, he worked under
Marshal Royal in the 45-piece regimental band that was attached to the Navy's preflight training school for pilots at St. Mary's College in Moraga, California. After his discharge, he joined
Lionel Hampton`s band in 1949 before moving to New York in 1954. There, he played with
Oscar Pettiford and at Minton`s Playhouse doing combo work with
Kenny Burrell. He also worked at the
Roxy Theatre (New York City) in their
R&B productions.[1]
Richardson was the regular saxophonist in the Oscar Pettiford band that one night, being busy with studio recording work, saw him late for the gig at
Cafe Bohemia where
Cannonball Adderley and brother
Nat Adderley were present in the audience. Cannonball had taken his part and was inadvertantly discovered as a result.[1]