Illinois Jaquet Question

[Kyle]

I was listening to my local jazz radio the day after Illinois died (KJAZZ in Long Beach, CA)

And they were talking about how he is given credit for the first ever tenor sax R&B solo ever recorded. The solo occured in Flyin' Home (the standard Lionel Hampton version for us swing DJ's)

The question is.....why is that considered the first. What made it different? Is it really considered the first one, or was that just the opinion of that radio show? etc..... the more information the better, I know nothing about this

[Jerry_Jelinek]

....The question is.....why is that considered the first....

It's been a while since I've listened to the famous Flying Home track. Mr. Jacquet was considered the first 'r&b' tenor player because of his aggressive tenor playing.

The tenor sound was considered much smoother because of Lester Young and Coleman Hawkins in mid to late 1930s.

The style of honking and squealing derived from Mr. Jacquet and also don't forget Charlie Ventura. He was on the fore front of the aggressive tenor sound.

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... ql=77:1590

Some tenor players could elaborate more on this.[/url]

[Kyle]

no one else has anything on this?

[Swifty]

A little on Jacquet's style here: http://airjudden.tripod.com/jazz/illinoisjacquet.html


And USA Today says a little more about the recording: http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/200 ... obit_x.htm

I never really thought about it, but it amazed me to realize that Jacquet was only 19 years old when he blew that solo!

[Kyle]

thanks for the links

I thought he was 18 at the time, because, from what i heard, Dexter Gordon who was in that band was only 17 at the time (but i could be off a year)