Jack Teagarden

Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905 – January 15, 1964) was an American jazz trombonist and singer. He led both of his bands himself and was a sideman for Paul Whiteman's orchestra. From 1946 to 1951, he played in Louis Armstrong's All-Stars. Charles encouraged Teagarden to play the baritone horn. At age eight, Jack received his first trombone as a Christmas gift, transitioning from the tenor-valve horn to the trombone. His first public performances were in his local theaters, helping his mother provide music for silent films. After his father's death, the family moved to Chappell, Nebraska where he and his mother continued working in theaters.

Teagarden became the youngest member of the Paul Goetze Band at age 11.

Music career

At the age of 16, Teagarden began playing the trombone professionally in San Antonio as a member of Cotton Bailey's dance and jazz band.

In the late 1920s, he recorded with musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Bix Beiderbecke, Red Nichols, Jimmy McPartland, Mezz Mezzrow, Glenn Miller, Eddie Condon, and Fats Waller. In 1931, Teagarden's own orchestra recorded the tune "Chances Are" with Fats Waller playing piano and Jack singing and playing trombone. Miller and Teagarden collaborated to provide lyrics to Spencer Williams' "Basin Street Blues", which became one of Teagarden's most frequently played numbers. Teagarden was honored with tributes from musicians and fans.

The Los Angeles Times noted that Teagarden was celebrated for his innovations in trombone technique and his soulful, blues-inflected vocals.

Style and technique Largely self-taught, Teagarden developed unusual alternative positions and special effects on the trombone. He is considered an innovative jazz trombone stylist of the pre-bebop era. Pee Wee Russell called him "the best trombone player in the world".

Jack Teagarden's trombone playing did not follow traditional Dixieland style. Instead, he adopted characteristics of his own, including upper register solos, not using a strict solo beat, and lip trills.

Jack Teagarden's trombone playing combined smooth, horizontal melodic phrasing with a distinctive use of vertical, arpeggiated lines. His improvisational style, showcased in performances like his 1953 solo on "Lover," was characterized by a balance of technical skill and melodic fluidity. Critics have highlighted his warm, vocal-like tone throughout his performances.

Legacy Jack Teagarden performed for diverse audiences, including royal families in Cambodia and Thailand. Despite facing many challenges, including financial struggles during the Great Depression, Teagarden viewed the acceptance of jazz as a cultural achievement. Gunther Schuller praised Teagarden's ability to combine technical brilliance with emotional depth. and the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1985.

Discography Source:

1930–34 – Chronological (Classics, 199?) 1934–39 – Chronological (Classics, 199?) 1939–40 – Chronological (Classics, 199?) 1940–41 – Chronological (Classics, 199?) 1941–43 – Chronological (Classics, 199?) 1944–47 – Chronological (Classics, 199?) 1928–43 – Father of Jazz Trombone (Avid Entertainment, 2004) (3xCD) (Eddie Condon, Bud Freeman, Jack Teagarden bands) 1928–40 – King of the Blues Trombone (Epic, 1963) (3xLp) (Ben Pollack, Jack Pettis, Jack Teagarden, Benny Goodman bands) 1929–53 – It's Time for T (Naxos, 2006) 1938–44 – Jack Teagarden and His Swingin' Gates (Commodore, 1944) 1939.06 – Birth of a Band (Giants of Jazz, 1985) 1939 – The Metronome All Star Bands (Camden, 1939) 1940 – Big Jazz (Atlantic, 1953) (Jack Teagarden Big Eight only in the 4 tracks of the first side, H.R.S. recordings) 1944 – The Big Band Sound of Bunny Berigan (1936) & Jack Teagarden (Folkways, 1982) (Jack Teagarden only in the last 6 tracks) 1944 – Big Band Jazz (Everest Archive, 1979) 1944.08 – Mighty Like a Rose (Koala, 1979) 1944.12 – Big T & the Condon Gang (Pumpkin, 1978) 1944.08 – Big T Plays the Blues (Ultraphonic, 1940–1944) Reissued with different titles from different labels 1944 – Trombone Time (Mercury, 1954) reissued as Holiday in Trombone (EmArcy, 1954) 10" Lp (Jack Teagarden only on side A, band as George Wettling's New Yorkers Keynote original recordings 1944–55 – Big T's Jazz (Decca, 1956) 1954.11 – Jazz Great (Bethlehem, 1956) 1954 – Meet the New Jack Teagarden Volume I (Urania, 1954) 10" Lp 1954 – Jack Teagarden Plays and Sings (Urania, 1954) 10" Lp 1954 – Accent On Trombone (Urania, 1955) contains the previous two 10" Lps. (Reissued with different titled from different labels) 1954.11 – Original Dixieland (Everest Archive, 1978) originally released as Period SPL 1110 (10") 1956.01 – This Is Teagarden! (Capitol, 1956) 1956.02 – Shades of Night (Capitol, 1959) 1956.10 – Swing Low, Sweet Spiritual (Capitol, 1957) 1958.04 – Big T's Dixieland Band (Capitol, 1958) 1956–58 – The Complete Capitol Fifties Jack Teagarden Sessions (4xCD) (Mosaic, 1996) Reissue of the 4 previous albums plus two album under the name of Bobby Hackett with indedits 1959.07 – Jack Teagarden at the Roundtable (Roulette, 1959) 1960.01 – Jazz Maverick (Roulette, 1960) 1961.01 – The Dixie Sound of Jack Teagarden (Roulette, 1962) 1961.01 – A Portrait of Mr. T (Roulette, 1963) 1959–61 – The Complete Roulette Jack Teagarden Sessions (4xCD) (Mosaic?) Reissue of the 4 previous Roulette albums with indedits 1960–63 – The Swingin' Gate (Giants Of Jazz, 1981) Mis'ry and the Blues (Verve, 1961) Think Well of Me (Verve, 1962) Jack Teagarden (Verve, 1962) 1963.09 – 100 Years from Today (Grudge, 1990) Live at Monterey Jazz Festival The Blues and Dixie (Rondo–lette, 1963) Swinging Down in Dixie (Golden Tone, 1963)

As co-leader or guest 1929 – Eddie Condon 's Hot Shots (Label X, Camden, ) Jack Teagarden only in 3 tracks The Whoopee Makers (Folkways, 1929) 1929 – Louis Armstrong, and his Orchestra (Columbia, 1929) 78 rpm 1929–1930 – Louisiana Rhythm Kings – Recorded In New York 1929-1930 (Jazz Oracle, 2002) Jack Teagarden only in 3 tracks 1929 – Mound City Blue Blowers (Label X, HMV, 1929) 1931 – Charleston Chasers (Columbia, 1931) Eddie Lang-Joe Venuti and their all-star Orchestra (Folkways, 1931) Benny Goodman and his Orchestra (Columbia, 1933) Benny Goodman and his Orchestra (Columbia, 1934) 1940 – VV AA, Metronome All Stars (Columbia, 1955) (Jack Teagarden only in two tracks) Bud Freemand and His Famous Chicagoans (Harmony, 1940) Eddie Condon and His Orchestra (Decca, 1944) Louis Armstrong (All Stars), Town Hall Concert (Victor, 1947) Eddie Condon and His Orchestra (Decca, 1947) 1947 – Louis Armstrong, Satchmo at Symphony Hall (Decca, 1947) 1950 – Louis Armstrong, All Stars (Decca, 1950) 1950 – Louis Armstrong, Satchmo at Pasadena (Decca, 1951) 1952.08 – Ben Pollack and His Pick-A-Rib Boys (Savoy, 1952) (Jack Teagarden only in four tracks) 1955 – Bobby Hackett (And His Jazz Band), Coast Concert (Capitol, 1955) 1957.09 – Bobby Hackett, Jazz Ultimate (Capitol, 1958) Paul Whiteman, Fiftieth Anniversary (Grand Award, 1957) 1957 – Bud Freeman, Chicago_Austin High School (RCA Victor, 1957) Red Allen, Red Allen, Kid Ory & Jack Teagarden at Newport (Verve, 1957) Ben Pollack, Dixieland (Savoy, 1956)