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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 ZANDERSON, Cat(b William Alonzo Anderson, 12 Sep. '16, Greenville SC; d 29 April '81) Trumpet. Raised in orphanage; acquired nickname beating up a bully. With Sunset Royals '38--41, Erskine Hawkins, then Lionel Hampton '42--4; then Duke Ellington from '44 until '71 except for two short breaks (own band '47). Already known for high notes, playing parts an octave higher than written (originally because the high-note artist got the girls), he was Duke's nonpareil specialist: e.g. 'Jam With Sam' '50; capped famous version of 'Diminuendo In Blue/Crescendo In Blue' at Newport '56; in Ellington/Strayhorn's Shakespeare suite Such Sweet Thunder '57, 'Madness In Great Ones' made unusually intelligent and artistic use of the stratospheric trumpet notes. He was more versatile than that, however; at his first Ellington rehearsal he played lead parts, and later fine plunger mute e.g. on 'A Gatherin' In A Clearing' '46, which he co-wrote, and on Billy Strayhorn's 'Charpoy' '67. 'The Eighth Veil' '50 was written for him. To California early '70s; TV and film work, toured with Ice Capades show '74--5, gigs with own groups, Ellington alumni, etc. Own LPs incl. Cat Speaks on Classic Jazz label (Paris '77), eponymous set on Inner City. |