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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHACKETT, Bobby(b 31 January 1915, Providence RI; d 7 June 1976, Chatham MA) Cornet. From large family, father was a blacksmith; first pro jobs at 14 on stringed instruments in restaurants and ballrooms; he worked in Boston-area clubs with other white jazzmen of his generation such as Pee Wee Russell, Eddie Condon, Brad Gowans (trombone, clarinet, arr.; b 3 December 1903, Billerica MA; d 8 September 1954, Los Angeles), all of whom played on his first records '38 and with Bud Freeman's Summa Cum Laude Orchestra '39. To NYC '37; guested at Benny Goodman Carnegie Hall concert '38; led own big band '39; played guitar, occasionally trumpet or cornet with Horace Heidt '39-40, Glenn Miller '41-2, Casa Loma band '44-6, also staff work in network radio, revues, clubs. He became better-known in the '50s playing lovely cornet solos on albums of mood music by comedian Jackie Gleason, also making TV appearances; led his own hotel sextet late '50s with arrangements by Dick Cary. Hackett on cornet, trumpeter Cary on piano and trombonist Jack Teagarden all played at Louis Armstrong's legendary Town Hall concert '47. Hackett was identified as a dixieland player, a modern Bix Beiderbecke, but (like the younger Ruby Braff and Warren Vaché) he transcended category, his beautiful tone, good taste and lyrical ideas allowing him to play with anybody and endearing him to critics, public and musicians alike. He worked with Tony Bennett mid-'60s; appeared on TV film Just Jazz '71 with Vic Dickenson, etc; guested with The World's Greatest Jazz Band. His own albums included The Hackett Horn, a compilation of '38-40 tracks from Columbia Special Products USA; Live At The Rustic Lodge '49-51 on Jass included reedman Tony Parenti (b 6 August 1900, New Orleans; d 17 April 1972, NYC; worked with Condon, Muggsy Spanier, Miff Mole, etc; recorded for Jazzology and Riverside); Coast Concert '55 (a particularly delightful octet set) and Jazz Ultimate '57, both on Capitol with Jack Teagarden, Bixieland with Condon on Columbia; Live From The Voyager Room on Shoestring (two vols, '56-8 air checks of sextet); Sextet Recordings from '62 and '70 on Storyville; volumes of the quintet Live At The Roosevelt Grill '70 on Chiaroscuro and Live From Mannasas on Jazzology, all with Dickenson. |