Trombonist Kai Winding is probably best known to jazz fans for his numerous 1950s albums with trombonist J.J. Johnson. In many regards, Johnson was the memorable player on those LPs with a more singular and inventive style. But Winding also had a spectacular tone and an attack that was crisp, persistent and swinging. His piercing blare was almost trumpet-like.
Since we rarely get to hear the Danish-born trombonist by himself in a small group setting to evaluate his gifts, I thought I'd turn to Solo, his 1963 album. It was recorded for Verve when Creed Taylor was there as chief producer. The sessions took place over three dates: January 23 and February 4 and 5.
The January 23rd tracks were The Days of Wine and Roses, The Things We Did Last Summer, Hey There and How Are Things in Glocca Mora. The quartet featured Kai Winding (tb), Ross Tompkins (p), Russell George (b) and Gus Johnson (d). [Photo above of Kai Winding by William P. Gottlieb]
The February 4th tracks were Playboy's Theme, The Sweetest Sounds, You've Changed and I Believe in You. The change in personnel was Tommy Check replacing Johnson on drums.
And the February 5th tracks were Recardo, I'm Your Bunny Bossa Nova and Capricious. The band changes were the addition of guitarist Dick Garcia and Gus Jackson replacing Check.
Winding—along with his two sisters and mother—left Denmark in late 1934 to reunite in New York with his father, a naturalized U.S. citizen. Another little-known fact is that Winding arranged many of the songs he recorded with Johnson. In addition to working with Creed at Verve in the early 1960s, he moved with the producer to A&M and CTI, and was a member of the bebop supergroup the Giants of Jazz in the early 1970s.
Winding died in 1983 in New York after suffering from recurring brain disease. He was 60.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Kai Winding's Solo here on CD.
JazzWax clips: Here's How Are Things in Glocca Mora...
Here's Playboy's Theme...
And here's Days of Wine and Roses...
