Billy Bauer
Encyclopedia
Billy Bauer was an American
cool jazz
guitarist
.
. He played banjo as a child before switching to guitar. He played with the Jerry Wald
band and recorded with Carl Hoff and His Orchestra in 1941 before joining Woody Herman
in 1944 as a member of the First Herd and in 1946 he played with Benny Goodman
and Jack Teagarden
.
Working in small groups led by bassist Chubby Jackson
and trombonist Bill Harris
, Bauer established himself as a soloist in the bebop
movement.
In 1946 he began working with Lennie Tristano
. Tristano and Bauer enjoyed a natural synergy in their style and approach. Their development of "intuitive music" led to the 1949 session which included the free improvisation
s "Intuition" and "Digression". He was a member of the NBC Tonight Show band in NYC and played in the Today Show band at the start of early television.
Bauer continued his pioneering guitar work in a partnership with Lee Konitz
, whose avant-garde
saxophone work was a perfect match for Bauer's guitar. The two musicians' dialogue crossed styles from bop and cool to the avant-garde. Their recordings have been described as "some of the most beautiful duet recordings in jazz". "Duet For Saxophone and Guitar", was an unusual instrument pairing which has been described as redefining the role of jazz guitar.
Bauer made one album under his own name, "The Plectrist" in 1956. The CD reissue has been described as "demand(ing) the attention of anyone even remotely interested in jazz guitar". Later on he arranged a song entitled "No One" that appeared on a CD entitled "Henry Golis Presents Good Music With Friends" that was released on Park Lane Drive Records in 2007.
. He also published instructional books on studying music and playing the guitar.
Near the end of his career, Bauer appeared at the 1997 JVC Tributes for Barney Kessel
and Tal Farlow
. Bauer led the way for guitarists like Jimmy Raney and student Joe Satriani
.
In 1997 he published his autobiography "Sideman" (with Thea Luba ISBN 13 978-0965723701).
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cool jazz
Cool jazz
Cool is a style of modern jazz music that arose following the Second World War. It is characterized by its relaxed tempos and lighter tone, in contrast to the bebop style that preceded it...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
.
Life
Bauer was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He played banjo as a child before switching to guitar. He played with the Jerry Wald
Jerry Wald
Jerry Wald was an American producer and screenwriter for motion pictures and radio shows.Born Jerome Irving Wald in Brooklyn, New York, he had a brother and sons who were active in show business. Jerry began writing a radio column for the New York Evening Graphic while a student at New York...
band and recorded with Carl Hoff and His Orchestra in 1941 before joining Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
in 1944 as a member of the First Herd and in 1946 he played with Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
and Jack Teagarden
Jack Teagarden
Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden , known as "Big T" and "The Swingin' Gate", was an influential jazz trombonist, bandleader, composer, and vocalist, regarded as the "Father of Jazz Trombone".-Early life:...
.
Working in small groups led by bassist Chubby Jackson
Chubby Jackson
Greig Stewart 'Chubby' Jackson was an American jazz double-bassist and band leader.Born in New York City, Jackson began at the age of seventeen as a clarinetist, but quickly changed to bass....
and trombonist Bill Harris
Bill Harris (musician)
Bill Harris was a jazz trombonist.-Biography:Early in his career, Harris performed with Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, and Eddie Condon. He is renowned for his broad, thick tone and quick vibrato that remained for the duration of each tone. He went on to join Woody Herman's First Herd in 1944...
, Bauer established himself as a soloist in the bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
movement.
In 1946 he began working with Lennie Tristano
Lennie Tristano
Leonard Joseph Tristano was a jazz pianist, composer and teacher of jazz improvisation. He performed in the cool jazz, bebop, post bop and avant-garde jazz genres. He remains a somewhat overlooked figure in jazz history, but his enormous originality and dazzling work as an improviser have long...
. Tristano and Bauer enjoyed a natural synergy in their style and approach. Their development of "intuitive music" led to the 1949 session which included the free improvisation
Free improvisation
Free improvisation or free music is improvised music without any rules beyond the logic or inclination of the musician involved. The term can refer to both a technique and as a recognizable genre in its own right....
s "Intuition" and "Digression". He was a member of the NBC Tonight Show band in NYC and played in the Today Show band at the start of early television.
Bauer continued his pioneering guitar work in a partnership with Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz
Lee Konitz is an American jazz composer and alto saxophonist born in Chicago, Illinois.Generally considered one of the driving forces of Cool Jazz, Konitz has also performed successfully in bebop and avant-garde settings...
, whose avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
saxophone work was a perfect match for Bauer's guitar. The two musicians' dialogue crossed styles from bop and cool to the avant-garde. Their recordings have been described as "some of the most beautiful duet recordings in jazz". "Duet For Saxophone and Guitar", was an unusual instrument pairing which has been described as redefining the role of jazz guitar.
Bauer made one album under his own name, "The Plectrist" in 1956. The CD reissue has been described as "demand(ing) the attention of anyone even remotely interested in jazz guitar". Later on he arranged a song entitled "No One" that appeared on a CD entitled "Henry Golis Presents Good Music With Friends" that was released on Park Lane Drive Records in 2007.
Teaching
In later life Bauer taught at the New York Conservatory of Modern Music and his own Billy Bauer Guitar School first in Albertson, New York then in Roslyn Heights, New YorkRoslyn Heights, New York
Roslyn Heights is a hamlet in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is considered part of the Greater Roslyn area, which is anchored by the Village of Roslyn...
. He also published instructional books on studying music and playing the guitar.
Near the end of his career, Bauer appeared at the 1997 JVC Tributes for Barney Kessel
Barney Kessel
Barney Kessel was an American jazz guitarist born in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA. Generally considered to be one of the greatest jazz guitarists of the 20th century, he was noted in particular for his vast knowledge of chords and inversions and chord-based melodies...
and Tal Farlow
Tal Farlow
Talmage Holt Farlow was an American jazz guitarist. Nicknamed the "Octopus", Farlow's extremely large hands spread over the fretboard as if they were tentacles. He is considered one of the all-time great jazz guitarists. Michael G...
. Bauer led the way for guitarists like Jimmy Raney and student Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
.
In 1997 he published his autobiography "Sideman" (with Thea Luba ISBN 13 978-0965723701).