Herbert Hardesty

Herbert Hardesty (March 3, 1925 – December 3, 2016) was an American musician who played tenor saxophone and trumpet. He is best known for his association with the New Orleans pianist Fats Domino and the producer Dave Bartholomew, beginning in 1948. He released six 45-rpm records as Herb Hardesty between 1959 and 1962. His first CD of these recordings, together with others made but not issued in 1958, were released worldwide in July 2012 by Ace Records (United Kingdom) as The Domino Effect.

Early life Hardesty was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 3, 1925. He began trumpet lessons in school at the age of six and used a trumpet given to his stepfather by Louis Armstrong. He also took lessons from Professor Valmore Victor and began playing in a local Works Progress Administration big band. By 1939, he was getting paid to play with bands led by Papa Celestin, Sidney Desvigne, and others. Chick Webb also asked him to perform with his orchestra. His Army training continued at Tuskegee, Alabama, and he was a radio technician in the 99th Flying Training Squadron, stationed in Morocco, Italy, and Germany, making him part of what is now known as the Tuskegee Airmen. When time permitted he played trumpet and alto saxophone with local European musicians. After the war ended, Hardesty returned to New Orleans and attended Dillard University.

Early career His first trio performed at the Hurricane Bar (3726 S. Claiborne Avenue, in New Orleans, a few blocks from where he was living) with Hardesty playing double bass accompanied by a guitarist and pianist, similar to Nat King Cole's group.

Hardesty met Dave Bartholomew in 1946, and by January 1949 Bartholomew asked Hardesty to go into the studio to record with Chubby Newsom for De Luxe Records, for the album New Orleans Lover Man. This same trip to Los Angeles also included recording sessions that resulted in hits for Domino, including "Blue Monday", on which Hardesty played the baritone saxophone solo because the other musician was unable to get the right sound; it was the first and only time that Hardesty played baritone sax. One music writer said this solo "is as close to perfection as one can imagine. The eight-bar sax break is a gem of almost frightening economy. It is one of the most memorable, bluesy, and yet simple runs in all of r&b." Other well-known tenor saxophone solos by Hardesty with Domino were on "I'm Walkin'", "Ain't That a Shame", and "Let the Four Winds Blow".

Hardesty's solo recordings began in 1957; the first two, organized by the guitarist Mickey Baker, were never released are not known to exist. the only release from this label; they were also released shortly after by Mutual, both labels having connections to Philadelphia. The Mutual release was listed on Philadelphia radio station WIBG's Future Forty chart for November 2, 1959, but did not chart elsewhere. and were re-released as two 45s by Federal Records in April and June 1961. Hardesty recorded four more songs in October 1961, which were released in 1962 by Federal; two are not instrumentals and had vocals by the New Orleans guitarist Walter "Papoose" Nelson. Hardesty co-wrote the title track of Fats Domino's 1964 album, Fats on Fire.

In 1978, the drummer Earl Palmer invited Hardesty to record with Tom Waits for the album Blue Valentine. He was a member of Waits's quartet in 1978 and 1979, touring in the United States, Europe and Australia. He played more trumpet than tenor sax. CDs and DVDs of the Waits shows in Austin, Texas, are available.

Hardesty rejoined Domino from about 1980 until 2005 and can be heard on numerous live recordings released during these years. He played tenor sax on Dr. John's 1992 album Goin' Back to New Orleans. Over the years Hardesty performed in Europe and privately issued a CD recorded in Germany with the Olaf Polziehn Trio. He also appeared at the Ascona Jazz Festival with the tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson. He recorded with the pianist Mitch Woods for the albums Big Easy Boogie, released in 2006 (followed by a European tour in 2008), and Gumbo Blues, released in 2010. Hardesty continued to perform with Dr. John at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Reviewing his solos at the 2012 festival, the newspaper Gambit wrote: "All hail Herb Hardesty, one of the few remaining alums of the J&M Studio Band whose talents helped create so many hits and classic songs for Fats Domino, Little Richard, Shirley and Lee, and so many others. His presence and fine soloing in Dr. John's sets this Jazz Fest added to the New Orleans feel in Dr. John's new songs." He led his own group, Herb Hardesty & The Dukes, on April 28, 2013, in the Blues tent at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Hardesty continued to perform in Las Vegas. He died of cancer there on December 3, 2016, at the age of 91.

Instruments played For most of his career, Hardesty played a gold-plated Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone with an Otto Link mouthpiece. His trumpet was custom-made by Henri Selmer Paris, one of two made in France by a master craftsman; the other was owned by Louis Armstrong.

Discography Herb Hardesty Singles Paoli 1001, "Beatin' and Blowin'" b/w "Perdido Street" Mutual 1001, "Beatin' and Blowin'" b/w "Perdido Street" Federal 12410, "Beatin' and Blowin'" b/w "69 Mother's Place" Federal 12423, "Perdido Street" b/w "Adam and Eva" (the correct title is "Adam and Eve") Federal 12444, "Just a Little Bit of Everything" b/w "It Must Be Wonderful" Federal 12460, "The Chicken Twist" b/w "Why Did We Have To Part"

Compilation album Ace CDTOP 1333, The Domino Effect: Wing and Federal Recordings 1958–61

The Diamonds with Herb Hardesty and His Orchestra Singles Mercury 71291, "Chick-Lets" (also known as "Don't Let Me Down")

Compilation album King LP 771, Just a Little Bit of Everything, with James Brown and four other groups