Trumpeter Red Rodney began his recording career with Jimmy Dorsey in 1944, moving on to Gene Krupa in 1946 just as Gerry Mulligan began writing arrangements for the band. Later that year, Rodney recorded with vocalese pioneers Dave Lambert and Buddy Stewart, and then led his own bop group in 1947. After recording with Serge Chaloff that year, Rodney worked with Claude Thornhill, Benny Goodman and Woody Herman in their leading bands of the era. From 1949 to 1951, Rodney was a member of the Charlie Parker Quintet. Then he led a long string of groups, teaming up with Ira Sullivan. [Photo above of Red Rodney on trumpet with tenor saxophonist Charlie Ventura, left, and drummer Gene Krupa, conducting, in 1946]
Here are six videos of Red Rodney:
Here's Rodney with Gene Krupa in 1947 in Beat the Band. If you look carefully 47 seconds in, one of the musicians grabs baritone saxophonist Gerry Mulligan's arm...
Here's Rodney and Dexter Gordon in 1975...
Here's Rodney and Ira Sullivan...
Here's Rodney's fast version of The Girl From Ipanema, and yet it works. With Bill Watrous on trombone (wearing what must be the least amount of clothes by a performing jazz musicians) and Chris Potter on saxophone...
Here's Rodney playing 'Round Midnight, with Frank Morgan on alto saxophone, Monty Alexander on piano, Rufus Reid on bass and Roy Haynes on drums...
Bonus: Here's Rodney playing You Better Go Now with Ira Sullivan on tenor saxophone in November 1957. Impossibly beautiful...
