Betty Glamann
Encyclopedia
Betty Glamann is an American jazz
harp
ist.
Glamann learned to play harp at the age of ten. She attended a conservatory and was the harpist for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
for three years. She played with Spike Jones
in 1948, founded the Smith-Glamann Quintet in 1955, played with Duke Ellington
and Marian McPartland
around 1955 and then with Oscar Pettiford
during 1957-58. With Kenny Dorham
's band she recorded the album Jazz Contrasts in 1957. In 1958 she was involved in a Michel Legrand
recording session with John Coltrane
and Miles Davis
; she played with Eddie Costa
in 1958 and with the Modern Jazz Quartet
in 1960. She recorded one album under her own name, Swinging on a Harp.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
ist.
Glamann learned to play harp at the age of ten. She attended a conservatory and was the harpist for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra
The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is a professional American symphony orchestra based in Baltimore, Maryland.In September 2007, Maestra Marin Alsop led her inaugural concerts as the Orchestra’s twelfth music director, making her the first woman to head a major American orchestra.The BSO Board...
for three years. She played with Spike Jones
Spike Jones
Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and other Warner Brothers cartoon characters, performed a drunken, hiccuping verse for 1942's "Clink! Clink! Another Drink"...
in 1948, founded the Smith-Glamann Quintet in 1955, played with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and Marian McPartland
Marian McPartland
Margaret Marian McPartland, OBE is an English-born jazz pianist, composer, writer, and the host of Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz on National Public Radio, NPR.-Early life:...
around 1955 and then with Oscar Pettiford
Oscar Pettiford
Oscar Pettiford was an American jazz double bassist, cellist and composer known particularly for his pioneering work in bebop.-Biography:...
during 1957-58. With Kenny Dorham
Kenny Dorham
McKinley Howard Dorham was an American jazz trumpeter, singer, and composer born in Fairfield, Texas. Dorham's talent is frequently lauded by critics and other musicians, but he never received the kind of attention from the jazz establishment that many of his peers did...
's band she recorded the album Jazz Contrasts in 1957. In 1958 she was involved in a Michel Legrand
Michel Legrand
Michel Jean Legrand is a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and pianist...
recording session with John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
and Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
; she played with Eddie Costa
Eddie Costa
Eddie Costa, , was an American jazz pianist and vibraphonist born in Atlas, Pennsylvania near Mount Carmel, PA in Northumberland County....
in 1958 and with the Modern Jazz Quartet
Modern Jazz Quartet
The Modern Jazz Quartet was established in 1952 by Milt Jackson , John Lewis , Percy Heath , and Kenny Clarke . Connie Kay replaced Clarke in 1955...
in 1960. She recorded one album under her own name, Swinging on a Harp.
Selected discography
- Duke Ellington: A Drum Is a WomanA Drum Is a WomanA Drum Is a Woman is a musical allegory by American pianist, composer and bandleader Duke Ellington, with many songs also written by Billy Strayhorn. It tells the story of Madam Zajj, the personification of African rhythm, and Carribee Joe, who has his roots firmly in the Jungle with his drums...
(Columbia, 1957) - Bill Evans & Eddie Costa: Complete Quartet Recordings (Lone Hill Jazz, 1958)
- Kenny Dorham: Jazz ContrastsJazz ContrastsJazz Contrasts is an album by American jazz trumpeter Kenny Dorham featuring performances recorded in 1957 and released on the Riverside label...
(Prestige/OJC,1957) - Michel Legrand: Legrand Jazz (Phillips, 1958)
- Modern Jazz Quartet: MJQ 40 (Atlantic, 1952–88)
- Oscar Pettiford: Deep Passion (Impulse!, 1956–57)