Bill Berry (trumpeter)

American jazz musician

Bill Berry

Birth name| William Richard Berry
Born| September 14, 1930
Benton Harbor, Michigan, U.S.
Died| November 13, 2002 (aged 72)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres| Jazz
Instruments| Trumpet

Musical artist

William Richard Berry (September 14, 1930 – November 13, 2002)[1] was an American jazz trumpeter, best known for playing with the Duke Ellington Orchestra in the early-1960s, and for leading his own big band.

## Early life and education

[edit]

Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan,[1] Berry was the son of a bass player in a touring dance band. He spent his early years traveling with his parents.[2] From the age of five, he took piano lessons at his parents' home in South Bend, Indiana. In high school in Cincinnati, he switched to trumpet, which he played in a Midwest band led by Don Strickland.[1] Berry studied at the Cincinnati College of Music and Berklee College of Music in Boston, and played trumpet with the Woody Herman and Maynard Ferguson orchestra.[1]

## Career

[edit]

Berry served four years in the United States Air Force. In 1961, he became one of the Duke Ellington orchestra's first white members.[3]

After his working with Ellington, he played with The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra and led his own big band in New York. In 1965, he joined The Merv Griffin Show, where he remained for fifteen years, moving to Los Angeles with Griffin and reforming his group as the L.A. Big Band in 1971.[1] Jack Nimitz, a baritone saxophonist in his band, said "He knew how to get what he wanted out of the band in a very relaxed way — nice and easy, no shouting."[2] Among the most successful of his own recordings[4] was Shortcake (Concord, 1978),[1] an album of jazz for small group in the Ellington style;[5] he appeared on many albums by other musicians, including Rosemary Clooney (Everything's Coming Up Rosie), Scott Hamilton (Scott Hamilton Is a Good Wind Who Is Blowing Us No Ill), Jake Hanna (Live at Concord), and Coleman Hawkins (Wrapped Tight).

## Discography

[edit]

### As leader

[edit]

* Jazz and Swinging Percussion (Directional Sound, 1963)[6]
* Hot & Happy (Beez, 1974)
* Hello Rev (Concord Jazz, 1976)
* For Duke (M&K, 1978)
* Shortcake (Concord Jazz, 1978)

### As sideman

[edit]

With Frank Capp

* Juggernaut (Concord Jazz, 1977)
* Live at the Century Plaza (Concord Jazz, 1978)
* Juggernaut Strikes Again! (Concord Jazz, 1982)
* Live at the Alley Cat (Concord Jazz, 1987)
* In a Hefti Bag (Concord Jazz, 1995)
* Play It Again Sam (Concord Jazz, 1997)

With Duke Ellington

* Midnight in Paris (CBS, 1962)
* My People (Contact, 1964)
* Ellingtonia Reevaluations (Impulse!/ABC 1973)
* Recollections of the Big Band Era (Atlantic, 1982)
* Serenade to Sweden (Black Lion, 1982)
* Jungle Triangle (Black Lion, 1983)
* Featuring Paul Gonsalves (Fantasy, 1984)

With Maynard Ferguson

* Maynard '61 (Roulette, 1961)
* Two's Company (Roulette, 1961)
* "Straightaway" Jazz Themes (Roulette, 1961)

With Thad Jones/Mel Lewis

* Presenting Thad Jones/Mel Lewis & the Jazz Orchestra (Solid State, 1966)
* Live at the Village Vanguard (Solid State, 1967)
* Thad Jones/Mel Lewis (Blue Note, 1975)
* Opening Night (BMG, 1997)
* Village Vanguard Live Sessions (LaserLight, 1997)
* The Second Race (LaserLight, 1999)
* All My Yesterdays (Resonance, 2016)

With others

* Ruth Brown, Fine and Mellow (Fantasy, 1992)
* Ruth Brown, Fine Brown Frame (Capitol, 1993)
* Benny Carter, A Man Called Adam (Retrograde, 2007)
* Ray Charles, Porgy & Bess (RCA/BMG 1989)
* Rosemary Clooney, Everything's Coming Up Rosie (Concord Jazz, 1977)
* Chris Connor, Double Exposure (Atlantic, 1961)
* Randy Crawford, Everything Must Change (Warner Bros., 1976)
* Bing Crosby, A Tribute to Duke (Concord Jazz, 1977)
* Dave Frishberg, Oklahoma Toad (CTI, 1970)
* Scott Hamilton, Scott Hamilton Is a Good Wind Who Is Blowing Us No Ill (Concord Jazz, 1977)
* Jake Hanna, Live at Concord (Concord Jazz, 1975)
* Jake Hanna, Jake Hanna's Kansas City Express (Concord Jazz, 1976)
* Coleman Hawkins, Wrapped Tight (Impulse!, 1965)
* Woody Herman, Woody Herman and His Orchestra '58 Featuring the Preacher (Columbia, 1958)
* Earl Hines, Once Upon a Time (Impulse!, 1966)
* Johnny Hodges, Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra (Verve, 1962)
* Johnny Hodges, Don't Sleep in the Subway (Verve, 1967)
* Milt Jackson, For Someone I Love (Riverside, 1963)
* Milt Jackson, Big Band Bags (Milestone, 1973)
* Irene Kral & Herb Pomeroy, The Band and I (United Artists, 1959)
* Trini Lopez, Live at Basin St. East (Reprise, 1964)
* Johnny Mathis, In a Sentimental Mood (Columbia, 1990)
* Gary McFarland, Profiles (Impulse!, 1966)
* Dave Pell, The Dave Pell Octet Plays Again (Fresh Sound, 1984)
* Herb Pomeroy, Band in Boston (United Artists, 1959)
* Jimmy Rowles, Plus2, Plus3, Plus4 (JVC, 1995)
* Jack Sheldon, Singular (Beez, 1980)
* Patty Weaver, Feelings (RE/SE, 1976)
* Joe Williams, Presenting Joe Williams and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis (Solid State, 1966)
* Joe Williams and Thad Jones/Mel Lewis, Joe Williams (LRC, 1990)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 46/7. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
2. ^ a b Dennis McLellan, "Bill Berry, 72; Band Leader, Duke Ellington's Trumpeter," Los Angeles Times, November 20, 2002.
3. ^ Bill Berry, 72, Jazz Trumpeter," obituary, The New York Times, November 19, 2002.
4. ^ Richard Cook and Brian Morton, The Penguin Guide to Jazz, 1st ed. (1992), p. 104.
5. ^ Bill Berry, Shortcake, review by Dave Glackin.
6. ^ "Bill Berry Quartet - Jazz & Swinging Percussion". Discogs. 1963.

## External links

[edit]

* Bill Berry, 72; Band Leader, Duke Ellington's Trumpeter, obituary by Dennis McLellan, Los Angeles Times, November 20, 2002.
* Bill Berry, 72, Jazz Trumpeter, obituary, New York Times, November 19, 2002.
* Bill Berry, The Last Post (Jazzhouse.org obituary).

* v
* t
* e

Duke Ellington

Discography

Studio albums|

* Harlem Jazz, 1930
* Ellingtonia, Vol. One
* Ellingtonia, Vol. Two
* Braggin' in Brass: The Immortal 1938 Year
* The Blanton–Webster Band
* Never No Lament: The Blanton-Webster Band
* Smoke Rings
* Liberian Suite
* Great Times!
* Masterpieces by Ellington
* Ellington Uptown
* The Duke Plays Ellington
* Ellington '55
* Dance to the Duke!
* Ellington Showcase
* Historically Speaking
* Duke Ellington Presents...
* The Complete Porgy and Bess
* A Drum Is a Woman
* Studio Sessions, Chicago 1956
* Such Sweet Thunder
* Studio Sessions 1957 & 1962
* Ellington Indigos
* Black, Brown and Beige
* Duke Ellington at the Bal Masque
* The Cosmic Scene
* Happy Reunion
* Jazz Party
* Anatomy of a Murder
* Festival Session
* Blues in Orbit
* The Nutcracker Suite
* Piano in the Background
* Swinging Suites by Edward E. and Edward G.
* Unknown Session
* Piano in the Foreground
* Paris Blues
* Featuring Paul Gonsalves
* Midnight in Paris
* Studio Sessions, New York 1962
* Afro-Bossa
* The Symphonic Ellington
* Duke Ellington's Jazz Violin Session
* Studio Sessions New York 1963
* My People
* Ellington '65
* Duke Ellington Plays Mary Poppins
* Ellington '66
* Concert in the Virgin Islands
* The Popular Duke Ellington
* Far East Suite
* The Jaywalker
* Studio Sessions, 1957, 1965, 1966, 1967, San Francisco, Chicago, New York
* ...And His Mother Called Him Bill
* Second Sacred Concert
* Studio Sessions New York, 1968
* Latin American Suite
* The Pianist
* New Orleans Suite
* Orchestral Works
* The Suites, New York 1968 & 1970
* The Intimacy of the Blues
* The Afro-Eurasian Eclipse
* Studio Sessions New York & Chicago, 1965, 1966 & 1971
* The Intimate Ellington
* The Ellington Suites
* This One's for Blanton!
* Up in Duke's Workshop
* Duke's Big 4
* Mood Ellington

Live albums|

* Duke Ellington at Fargo, 1940 Live
* Black, Brown, and Beige
* The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1943
* The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1944
* The Carnegie Hall Concerts: January 1946
* The Carnegie Hall Concerts: December 1947
* Ellington at Newport
* Dance Concerts, California 1958
* Dance Dates, California 1958
* Newport 1958
* Jazz at the Plaza Vol. II
* Duke Ellington at the Alhambra
* Live at the Blue Note
* Hot Summer Dance
* The Great Paris Concert
* A Concert of Sacred Music
* In the Uncommon Market
* Soul Call
* Yale Concert
* 70th Birthday Concert
* Togo Brava Suite
* Live at the Whitney
* Third Sacred Concert
* Eastbourne Performance

Collaborations|

* Blue Rose
* Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Duke Ellington Song Book
* Side by Side
* Back to Back
* The Great Summit
* First Time! The Count Meets the Duke
* Duke Ellington Meets Coleman Hawkins
* Money Jungle
* Duke Ellington & John Coltrane
* Serenade to Sweden
* Ella at Duke's Place
* The Stockholm Concert, 1966
* Ella and Duke at the Cote D'Azur
* Francis A. & Edward K.
* It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing

Compositions|

* "African Flower"
* "All Too Soon"
* "Azure"
* "Black and Tan Fantasy"
* "Black, Brown and Beige"
* "C Jam Blues"
* "Come Sunday"
* "Cotton Tail"
* "Creole Love Call"
* "Day Dream"
* "Diminuendo and Crescendo in Blue"
* "Do Nothing Till You Hear from Me"
* "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"
* "Drop Me Off in Harlem"
* "East St. Louis Toodle-Oo"
* "Echoes of Harlem"
* "Everything but You"
* "I Ain't Got Nothin' but the Blues"
* "I Didn't Know About You"
* "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)"
* "I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart"
* "I'm Beginning to See the Light"
* "I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So"
* "In a Mellow Tone"
* "In a Sentimental Mood"
* "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"
* "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'"
* "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)"
* "The Mooche"
* "Mood Indigo"
* " Prelude to a Kiss"
* "Rocks in My Bed"
* "(In My) Solitude"
* "Sophisticated Lady"
* Queenie Pie (unfinished opera)

| by Billy Strayhorn|

* "Take the 'A' Train"
* "Lush Life"
* "Chelsea Bridge"
* "Something to Live For"
* "Satin Doll"
* "Blood Count"

|

by Juan Tizol|

* "Caravan"
* "Perdido"

Orchestra
members|

* Hayes Alvis
* Cat Anderson
* Ivie Anderson
* Harold Ashby
* Alice Babs
* Shorty Baker
* Butch Ballard
* Art Baron
* Aaron Bell
* Louie Bellson
* Joe Benjamin
* Barney Bigard
* Lou Blackburn
* Jimmy Blanton
* Wellman Braud
* Lawrence Brown
* Harry Carney
* Johnny Coles
* Willie Cook
* Buster Cooper
* Kay Davis
* Wild Bill Davis
* Wilbur de Paris
* Bobby Durham
* Mercer Ellington
* Rolf Ericson
* Jimmy Forrest
* Victor Gaskin
* Peter Giger
* Tyree Glenn
* Paul Gonsalves
* Sonny Greer
* Fred Guy
* Jimmy Hamilton
* Otto Hardwick
* Shelton Hemphill
* Rick Henderson
* Al Hibbler
* Johnny Hodges
* Major Holley
* Charlie Irvis
* Quentin Jackson
* Hilton Jefferson
* Herb Jeffries
* Freddie Jenkins
* Money Johnson
* Herbie Jones
* Wallace Jones
* Taft Jordan
* Al Killian
* Queen Esther Marrow
* Wendell Marshall
* Murray McEachern
* Louis Metcalf
* James "Bubber" Miley
* Harold "Geezil" Minerve
* Ray Nance
* Tricky Sam Nanton
* Oscar Pettiford
* Eddie Preston
* Russell Procope
* Junior Raglin
* Betty Roché
* Ernie Royal
* Al Sears
* Joya Sherrill
* Willie Smith
* Elmer Snowden
* Rex Stewart
* Billy Strayhorn
* Billy Taylor
* Clark Terry
* Juan Tizol
* Norris Turney
* Ben Webster
* Arthur Whetsel
* Cootie Williams
* Nelson Williams
* Skippy Williams
* Booty Wood
* Jimmy Woode
* Britt Woodman
* Sam Woodyard

Related|

* Mercer Ellington (son)
* Sacred Concerts
* Duke Ellington Bridge
* Duke Ellington Circle
* Duke Ellington Memorial
* Duke Ellington House
* Duke Ellington School of the Arts
* Luther Henderson
* Irving Mills
* Sophisticated Ladies
* Play On!
* Jam Session
* Steve Ellington

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* FAST
* WorldCat

National|

* Germany
* United States
* France
* BnF data
* Netherlands
* Norway

Artists|

* MusicBrainz

Other|

* SNAC

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template