Howard McGhee


Howard McGhee was one of the first bebop jazz trumpeters, with Dizzy Gillespie, Fats Navarro and Idrees Sulieman. He was known for his fast fingering and high notes. He had on an influence on younger bebop trumpeters such as Fats Navarro.

Biography

Howard McGhee was raised in Detroit, Michigan. During his career, he played in bands led by Lionel Hampton, Andy Kirk, Count Basie and Charlie Barnet. He was in a club listening to the radio when he first heard Charlie Parker and was one of the earliest adopters of the new style, a fact that was disapproved by older musicians like Kid Ory.
and Howard McGhee, Minton's Playhouse, c. September 1947
In 1946–47, some record sessions for the new label Dial were organized in Hollywood with Charlie Parker and the Howard McGhee. The first was held on July 29, 1946. The musicians were Charlie Parker, Howard McGhee, Jimmy Bunn, Bob Kesterson, and Roy Porter. With Parker's health near to collapse, he played "Max is Making Wax", "Lover Man", and "The Gypsy".
McGhee continued to work as a sideman with Parker. He played on titles like "Relaxin' at Camarillo", "Cheers", "Carvin the Bird" and "Stupendous". Around this time, McGhee was a leading musician in the Los Angeles bebop scene, participating in many concerts, recording, and even managing a night club for a period. His stay in California ended because of racial prejudice, particularly vicious towards McGhee as half of a mixed-race couple.
Drug problems sidelined McGhee for much of the 1950s, but he resurfaced in the 1960s, appearing in many George Wein productions. His career sputtered again in the mid-1960s and he did not record again until 1976. He led one of three big jazz bands trying to succeed in New York in the late 1960s. While the band did not survive, a recording was released in the mid-1970s.
He taught music through the 1970s, both in classrooms and at his apartment in midtown Manhattan and instructed musicians like Charlie Rouse in music theory. He was as much an accomplished composer-arranger as he was a performer.
McGhee died on July 17, 1987 at the age of 69, a memorial service was held for him on July 24, 1987

Discography

As leader/co-leader

With Lorez Alexandria
With Johnny Hartman
With Georgie Auld
  • Rainbow Mist compilation of Apollo recordings
With Coleman Hawkins
With Chubby Jackson
  • 1950 Chubby Jackson All Star Big Band
  • 1969 Chubby Jackson Sextet and Big Band
With James Moody
  • 1959 Hey! It's James Moody
  • 1961 Cookin' the Blues
With André Previn
  • 1946 André Previn All-Stars
  • 1975 Previn at Sunset
With Mel Tormé
With others