Dud Bascomb
Encyclopedia
Wilbur Odell "Dud" Bascomb (May 16, 1916, Birmingham, Alabama
– December 25, 1972, New York City
) was an American jazz
trumpeter best known for his tenure with Erskine Hawkins
. He is a 1979 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
.
Bascomb was born the youngest of a family of ten children, another of whom was future tenor saxophonist Paul Bascomb
. He played piano as a child but settled on trumpet, and first played with Hawkins at the Alabama State Teachers' School (now Alabama State University
) in 1932, where Hawkins led the Bama State Collegians
band. Dud remained in Hawkins's employ until 1944, and soloed with him on many of his most well-known recordings.
Bascomb eventually left Hawkins to play in his brother's septet, which became a big band
later in the decade. He played briefly with Duke Ellington
in 1957. In the 1950s Bascomb played for three years at Tyle's Chicken Shack in New Jersey
, leading a quintet which counted Lou Donaldson
among its members. He toured Japan
three times with Sam Taylor and Europe with Buddy Tate in the 1960s, in addition to touring and recording with James Brown
. He recorded sparingly as a leader; his Savoy Records
sessions in 1959-60 were not issued until 1986.
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
– December 25, 1972, New York City
New 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...
) was an American jazz
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...
trumpeter best known for his tenure with Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Ramsay Hawkins was an American trumpet player and big band leader from Birmingham, Alabama, dubbed "The 20th Century Gabriel". He is most remembered for composing the jazz standard "Tuxedo Junction" with saxophonist and arranger Bill Johnson...
. He is a 1979 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame
The Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame was founded in 1978, and opened a museum on September 18, 1993, with a mission "to foster, encourage, educate, and cultivate a general appreciation of the medium of jazz music as a legitimate, original and distinctive art form indigenous to America...
.
Bascomb was born the youngest of a family of ten children, another of whom was future tenor saxophonist Paul Bascomb
Paul Bascomb
Paul Bascomb was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, noted for his extended tenure with Erskine Hawkins. He is a 1979 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame....
. He played piano as a child but settled on trumpet, and first played with Hawkins at the Alabama State Teachers' School (now Alabama State University
Alabama State University
Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. ASU is a member school of the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund.- History :...
) in 1932, where Hawkins led the Bama State Collegians
Bama State Collegians
The Bama State Collegians is a student jazz orchestra made up of students at Alabama State University. This group, founded in the 1930s, has been directed by a number of notable musicians, including Tommy Stewart and Erskine Hawkins....
band. Dud remained in Hawkins's employ until 1944, and soloed with him on many of his most well-known recordings.
Bascomb eventually left Hawkins to play in his brother's septet, which became a big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
later in the decade. He played briefly with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
in 1957. In the 1950s Bascomb played for three years at Tyle's Chicken Shack in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, leading a quintet which counted Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were...
among its members. He toured Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
three times with Sam Taylor and Europe with Buddy Tate in the 1960s, in addition to touring and recording with James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
. He recorded sparingly as a leader; his Savoy Records
Savoy Records
Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part in popularizing bebop.Savoy Records is an American record label specializing in jazz, R&B and gospel. Starting in the mid 1940s, Savoy played an important part...
sessions in 1959-60 were not issued until 1986.