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Phineas Newborn Jr.








Phineas Newborn Jr.


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Phineas Newborn Jr.

Phineas Newborn Jr1.jpg
Background information
Born
(1931-12-14)December 14, 1931
Whiteville, Tennessee, U.S.
Died
May 26, 1989(1989-05-26) (aged 57)
Memphis, Tennessee
Genres
Jazz
Occupation(s)
Musician
Instruments
Piano
Associated acts
  • Lionel Hampton

  • Charles Mingus

  • B. B. King

  • Jackie Brenston


Phineas Newborn Jr. (December 14, 1931 – May 26, 1989)[1] was an American jazz pianist, whose principal influences were Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and Bud Powell.




Contents





  • 1 Biography


  • 2 Legacy


  • 3 Reputation


  • 4 Discography

    • 4.1 As leader/co-leader


    • 4.2 As sideman



  • 5 References


  • 6 External links




Biography[edit]


Newborn came from a musical family: his father, Phineas Newborn Sr., was a drummer in blues bands,[2] and his younger brother, Calvin, a jazz guitarist.[3] Phineas was born in Whiteville, Tennessee.[2] He studied piano as well as trumpet, and tenor and baritone saxophone.[4]


Before moving on to work with Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus, and others, Newborn first played in an R&B band led by his father on drums, with his brother Calvin on guitar, Tuff Green on bass, Ben Branch and future Hi Records star Willie Mitchell.[5] The group was the house band at the now famous Plantation Inn Club in West Memphis, Arkansas, from 1947 to 1951, and recorded as B. B. King's band on his first recordings in 1949, as well as the Sun Records sessions in 1950.[6] They left West Memphis in 1951 to tour with Jackie Brenston as the "Delta Cats" in support of the record "Rocket 88", recorded by Sam Phillips and considered by many to be the first ever rock & roll record (it was the first Billboard No. 1 record for Chess Records).[7]


Among his earliest recordings, from the early 1950s, are those for Sun Records with blues harmonica player Big Walter Horton,[8]We Three (as a trio with drummer Roy Haynes and bassist Paul Chambers), and his debut as a solo artist on RCA Victor, Phineas' Rainbow.


From 1956, Newborn began to perform in New York City, making his first album as a leader in that year. His trios and quartets at that time included Oscar Pettiford, Kenny Clarke, George Joyner and Philly Joe Jones.[9] Newborn created enough interest internationally to work as a solo pianist in Stockholm in 1958 and in Rome the following year.


On March 16, 1960, 29-year-old Newborn replaced Thelonious Monk and performed "It's All Right with Me" on the ABC-TV series Music for a Spring Night.[10] Newborn moved to Los Angeles that year, and recorded a sequence of piano trio albums for the Contemporary label. However, some critics found his playing style rather facile, and Newborn developed emotional problems as a result, necessitating his admission to the Camarillo State Mental Hospital for some periods. He also suffered a hand injury which hindered his playing.


Newborn's later career was intermittent due to ongoing health problems. This is most true of the period from the mid-1960s to mid-1970s when he faded from view, underappreciated and underrecorded. He made a partial comeback in the late 1970s and early 1980s, although this return apparently failed to benefit his financial situation.[11] He died in 1989 after the discovery of a growth on his lungs and was buried in Memphis National Cemetery.



Legacy[edit]


According to jazz historian Nat Hentoff, Newborn's plight spurred the 1989 founding of the Jazz Foundation of America, a group dedicated to helping with the medical bills and other financial needs of retired jazz greats. In the early 1990s the four-player Contemporary Piano Ensemble was formed by pianists Harold Mabern, James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, and Geoff Keezer to pay tribute to Newborn; it recorded two albums and toured internationally.[12]



Reputation[edit]


Despite his setbacks, many of Newborn's records, such as The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn Jr., Phineas' Rainbow, and Harlem Blues remain highly regarded. Jazz commentator Scott Yanow referred to Newborn as "one of the most technically skilled and brilliant pianists in jazz."[13] Evidence of his technical prowess can be heard on tracks such as "Sometimes I'm Happy", from the album Look Out – Phineas Is Back!, on which Newborn performs extended, complex, and brisk solos with both hands in unison. Leonard Feather said of him, "In his prime, he was one of the three greatest jazz pianists of all time."[14]Oscar Peterson said, "If I had to choose the best all-around pianist of anyone who's followed me chronologically, unequivocally ... I would say Phineas Newborn, Jr."[15]



Discography[edit]



As leader/co-leader[edit]


































































































Year recorded
Title
Label
Notes
1956

Here Is Phineas
Atlantic
Quartet, with Calvin Newborn (g), Oscar Pettiford (b), Kenny Clarke (d). LP 1235
1956

Phineas' Rainbow
RCA Victor
Quartet, with Calvin Newborn (g), George Joyner (b), Philly Joe Jones (d). LPM 1421
1957

While My Lady Sleeps
RCA Victor
Trio and String Section, with George Joyner (b), Alvin Stoller (d) and strings arranged and conducted by Dennis Farnon. LPM 1474
1957

Phineas Newborn Jr. Plays Harold Arlen's Music from Jamaica
RCA Victor
With orchestra: Ernie Royal (tp), Nick Ferrante (tp), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Sahib Shihab (as, bars, cl, bcl), Jerome Richardson (ts, fl), Les Spann (g), George Duvivier (b), Osie Johnson (d), Francisco Pozo and Willie Rodriguez (per). LPM 1589
1958

Fabulous Phineas
RCA Victor
Quartet, with Calvin Newborn (g), George Joyner (b), Denzil Best (d). LPM 1873
1958

Phineas Newborn Plays Again!
Edizioni Dell'Isola (Italy)
Trio, with Carlo Loffredo (b), Sergio Pisi (d). EIJ 2024 - released 1978
1958

Stockholm Jam Session Volume 1
SteepleChase
Sextet, with Benny Bailey (t), Oscar Pettiford (b) Rune Carlsson (d). SCCD-36025 - released 1992
1958

Stockholm Jam Session Volume 2
SteepleChase
Sextet, with Benny Bailey (t), Oscar Pettiford (b) Rune Carlsson (d). SCCD-36026 - released 1993
1959

Piano Portraits by Phineas Newborn
Roulette
Trio, with John Simmons (b) and Roy Haynes (d). R 52031
1959

I Love a Piano
Roulette
Trio, with John Simmons (b) and Roy Haynes (d). R 52043
1961

A World of Piano!
Contemporary
Trios, with Paul Chambers (b), Philly Joe Jones (d); Sam Jones (b), Louis Hayes (d). S7600
1961

The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn Jr.
Contemporary
Trios, with Leroy Vinnegar (b), Milt Turner (d); Sam Jones (b), Louis Hayes (d). S-7611
1964

The Newborn Touch
Contemporary
Trio, with Leroy Vinnegar (b), Frank Butler (d). S7615
1969

Please Send Me Someone to Love
Contemporary
Trio, with Ray Brown (b), Elvin Jones (d). S 7622
1969

Harlem Blues
Contemporary
Trio, with Ray Brown (b) and Elvin Jones (d). C 7634 - released 1975
1974

Solo Piano
Atlantic
Solo. SD 1672
1975

Solo
L+R (Germany)
Solo. CDLR 45020 - released 1990
1976

Back Home
Contemporary
Trio, with Ray Brown (b), Elvin Jones (d). C 7648
1976

Look Out - Phineas Is Back!
Pablo
Trio, with Ray Brown (b), Jimmie Smith (d). 2310-801
1977

Phineas Is Genius
Philips (Japan)
Trio, with Allen Jackson (b), Clarence Johnston (d). RJ-7420
1979

Tivoli Encounter
Storyville (Denmark)
Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (b), Bjarne Rostvold (d). STCD 8221
1986

C Jam Blues
Paddle Wheel (Japan)
Trio, with Ray Brown (b), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (d). 22OR-50511
1987

I've Something to Say
EmArcy (Japan)
Trio, with Jamil Nasser (b) Tony Reedus (d). 20PJ-10148


As sideman[edit]


































Year recorded
Leader
Title
Notes
1958

Oscar Pettiford

First Bass
Quintet and trio, with Lee Konitz (as), Zoot Sims (ts), Kenny Clarke (b). Live recordings released 1995 IAJRC CD 1010
1958

Roy Haynes

We Three
Trio, with Paul Chambers (b). New Jazz NJLP 8210
1959
Young Men from Memphis

Down Home Reunion
Octet and quartet, with Booker Little (t), Louis Smith (t), Frank Strozier (as), George Coleman (ts), Calvin Newborn (g), George Joyner (b), Charles Crosby (d). United Artists UAL 4029
1961
Howard McGhee & Teddy Edwards

Together Again!!!!
Quintet, with Ray Brown (b), Ed Thigpen (d). Contemporary M 3588
1961

Howard McGhee

Maggie's Back in Town!!
Quartet, with Leroy Vinnegar (b), Shelly Manne (d). Contemporary M 3596
1961
Helyne Stewart

Love Moods
Quartet, with Teddy Edwards (ts, arr), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Milt Turner (d). Contemporary M 3601
1961
Teddy Edwards

Good Gravy!
Quartet, with Leroy Vinnegar (b), Milt Turner (d). Contemporary M 3592


References[edit]



  1. ^ Eagle, Bob; LeBlanc, Eric S. (2013). Blues - A Regional Experience. Santa Barbara: Praeger Publishers. p. 131. ISBN 978-0313344237. 


  2. ^ ab Komara, Edward; Lee, Peter (2004-07-01). The Blues Encyclopedia. Routledge. ISBN 9781135958329. 


  3. ^ "Calvin Newborn: His life is a blues song". jacksonville.com. Retrieved 2017-05-06. 


  4. ^ Moon, Tom (2008-08-28). 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die. Workman Publishing. ISBN 9780761153856. 


  5. ^ "Phineas Newborn | Memphis Music Hall of Fame". memphismusichalloffame.com. Retrieved 2017-05-06. 


  6. ^ Robins, Wayne (Spring 1999). "Talk to the Boss: His Majesty Mr. King". Blues Access (37). 


  7. ^ Franklin, Dale. Memphus and the Great Gathering of the Blues People. 1 (1st ed.). CreateSpace. p. 34. ISBN 978-1-4414-9218-0. 


  8. ^ Filisko, Joe (December 9, 2009). "Walter Horton's Recordings" (PDF). Filisco.com. Retrieved May 6, 2017.


  9. ^ "Phineas Newborn Jr. Discography". JAZZDISCO. Retrieved March 11, 2013. 


  10. ^ Thelonious Monk: The Life and Times of an American Original by Robin Kelley.


  11. ^ Wilson, John S. (May 27, 1984). "Critics' Choices". The New York Times. 


  12. ^ "Contemporary Piano Ensemble". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 


  13. ^ "Phineas Newborn Jr. Biography". Pandora Radio. Pandora Media, Inc. Retrieved 11 March 2013. 


  14. ^ "Phineas Newborn Jr., 57, Top Jazz Pianist". The New York Times. 28 May 1989. 


  15. ^ Lyons, Len. The Great Jazz Pianists, Da Capo Press, Inc., 1983, p. 141.



External links[edit]



  • Phineas Newborn Jr. at AllMusic

  • Nat Hentoff on the plight of impoverished jazz musicians











Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Phineas_Newborn_Jr.&oldid=848043537"





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