The Birth of Bebop Scott Deveaux

[Fer Urbina]

So for comparison's sake the way Eckstine's trumpet section dives in and out of the ensemble on "Blowin' The Blues Away" with the way the First Herd's trumpet section take it up stairs on "Caldonia" are both, in their own way, out of Gillespie.

That both the first Herd and Gillespie's big bands had vibes players in them, Norvo and Jackson, is kind of odd.

The 1945-46 Herd's trumpet section was a bunch of 20-year old fans of Dizzy. He also contributed some arrangements to the band earlier in 1942 and if you listen to things like Red Top (a fast blues only available as a transcription recording or V-Disc) the trumpets play a phrase in unison behind Flip Phillips which is pure Gillespie (it shows up in Dizzy's "Shaw Nuff" for instance).

As for the vibes player, Margie Hyams was with Herman for about a year beginning in September 1944. Lionel Hampton was having quite a success with a big band from 1942 on, so that may be why vibes players where incorporated into big bands.

F

Edited April 23, 2006 by Fer Urbina