North Carolina Jazz Musicians L-R

Bio-bibliography, Selected Recordings, Research Guide

by Bryan Sinclair, Associate University Librarian for Public Services, UNC Asheville

Intro :: Musicians A-E :: F-K :: L-R :: S-Z

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Lawson, Chad
Pianist and leader of the Chad Lawson Trio based in Charlotte. Members include Zack Page, bassist, and Al Sergel, drummer. Lawson attended Berkeley and has studied with the likes of Fred Hersch and Donald Brown. The trio and its recordings have been featured on the hit TV series Dawson's Creek. Web Links: "Chad Lawson Trio." http://www.chadlawsontrio.com Selected CDs: Chad Lawson Trio. Dear Dorothy: The Oz Sessions. Summit 330, 2002.

Lewis, Sabby (William Sebastian)
Pianist, bandleader, arranger; b. Middleburg, NC, 11/1/14-7/9/94. Sources: Feather and Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, 1999; New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed.

Little, (Weston) Wilbur
Bassist; b. Parmele, NC, 3/5/28-5/4/87. Sources: Feather and Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, 1999; New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed.

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Malachi, John
All Music Guide Entry
Pianist; b. Red Springs, NC, 9/6/19-2/11/87. Grew up in Durham. Sources: Feather and Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, 1999; New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed.

Miles, Josie
All Music Guide Entry
Vocalist; b. Sommerville, NC, c1900-?. Classic blues singer of the 1920s. Associated with vaudeville and the African American musical theatre scene in New York. Web Links: "Red Hot Jazz Archive: Josie Miles" <http://www.redhotjazz.com/josiemiles.html> Selected CDs: Miles, Josie. Complete Recorded Works in Chronological Order, Vols. 1 & 2. DOCD 5466 & 5467

Monk, Thelonious Sphere
All Music Guide Entry
Pianist, composer, jazz innovator; b. Rocky Mount, NC, 10/10/17-2/17/82. Monk was born less than two weeks before Dizzy Gillespie. Delivered by a midwife in a little house on Red Row in the “colored” section of Rocky Mount, Thelonious Sphere Monk would go on to revolutionize jazz playing and composition. His idiosyncratic style drew from a wealth of material, from the Southern gospel of his roots to Harlem stride piano. Not much is known of Monk’s NC influences, although critics have commented on his unique treatment of “Carolina Moon” on one of his first recording sessions (see Complete Blue Note Recordings below). Sources: De Wilde, Laurent. Monk. Trans. by Jonathan Dickinson. New York: Marlowe, 1997; Feather and Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, 1999; Fitterling, Thomas. Thelonious Monk: His Life and Music. Berkeley, CA: Berkeley Hills Books, 1997; Gourse, Leslie. Straight, No Chaser: The Life and Genius of Thelonious Monk. New York: Schirmer Books, 1997; New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed.; Van der Bliek, Rob, ed. The Thelonious Monk Reader. New York: Oxford U P, 2001. Videos: Thelonious Monk: American Composer. Directed by Matthew Seig. Written by Quincy Troupe. Produced by Toby Byron and Richard Saylor. 60 min. BMG Video, 1993; Thelonious Monk: Straight No Chaser. Directed by Charlotte Zwerin. Produced by Charlotte Zwerin and Bruce Ricker. 90 min. Warner Home Video, 1990. Web Links: "The Thelonious Monk Website." http://www.achilles.net/~howardm/tsmonk.html Selected CDs: Monk, Thelonious. Brilliant Corners. OJC 026, 1991 (Originally recorded 1956); Monk, Thelonious. The Complete Blue Note Recordings (4 Discs). Blue Note 30363, 1994 (Originally recorded 1947-58; also featured are NC jazzmen Lou Donaldson on alto sax, John Coltrane on tenor sax, Percy Heath on bass, and Max Roach on drums); Monk, Thelonious. Monk's Music. OJC 084 (Originally recorded 1957); Monk, Thelonious. Thelonious Monk With John Coltrane. OJC 039 (Originally recorded 1957).

Moore, Freddie (Buddy)
Drummer, vocalist, washboard player; b. Washington, NC, 8/20/00-11/3/92. Some jazz references list Moore's birthplace as "Little Washington," which is not an actual place, but a local appellation used to distinguish it from the "bigger" Washington in D.C. Moore grew up in New Bern, but ran away from home at an early age to play with a minstrel show. Sources: Feather and Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, 1999; New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed.

Moore, Pee Wee (Numa "Pee Wee," Numa Smith)
All Music Guide Entry
Baritone saxophonist; b. Raleigh, NC, 3/5/28- . Numa Smith Moore grew up on Lenoir St. in Southeast Raleigh, where he attended the all-black Washington High School. At Washington, he studied music under band director John Levingston. Went on to become a longtime fixture in Dizzy Gillespie's big bands during the 1940's and 50's. Sources: New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed.; Zagier, Alan Scher. "Jazzman Doesn't Sing the Blues." News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), Feb. 22, 1999, B1+.

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North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra
Founded in 1993 by James Ketch and Gregg Gelb, the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra has established a name for itself as one of the leading repertory orchestras in the country. The NCJRO is sponsored and operated by the Jazz Foundation of North Carolina, Inc. The mission of the Jazz Foundation is to ensure the continued development of jazz and jazz education in the state. As a means of advancing its mission, the Jazz Foundation initiates concerts and educational programs that promote understanding of and appreciation for the art form. In partnership with the people of North Carolina, the Jazz Foundation and the North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra assume a leadership role in the preservation of jazz. For more information on the Jazz Foundation or the NCJRO or to be placed on the NCJRO mailing list please address inquiries to: Jazz Foundation of North Carolina, Inc. PO Box 51523 Durham, NC 27717-1523 or email wwest@triad.rr.com.
Web Link: "North Carolina Jazz Repertory Orchestra." http://www.ncjro.org/
Woodwind Section: William Fritz, baritone, alto, clarinet, bass clarinet (Wake Forest); Gregg Gelb, tenor, clarinet (Sanford); Rodney Marsh, alto, clarinet (Raleigh); David Reid, alto, clarinet (Clemmons); Wally West, tenor (Greensboro). Trombone Section: George Broussard (Greenville); Mitch Butler (Durham); Caren Enbe (Fuquay-Varina); Michael Kris, bass trombone (Wake Forest). Trumpet Section: Jerry Bowers (Raleigh); James Ketch (Durham); Jay Lineberry (Greensboro); Benjy Springs (Greensboro). Rhythm Section: Don Gladstone, bass (Cary); John Hanks, drums, percussion (Durham); Drew Lile, guitar (Durham); Jon Metzger, vibes (Gibsonville); Ed Paolantonio, piano (Durham). Vocals: Kathy Gelb (Sanford).

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Parker, Maceo
All Music Guide Entry
Alto saxophonist, bandleader; b. Kinston, NC, 2/14/43- . Parker is best known as the burning horn player in James Brown's funk bands of the 1960s and 70s. He also worked with Parliament/Funkadelic and Bootsy's Rubber Band. Recently, the saxophonist has found and nurtured a new interest in his jazz roots, having recorded several jazz albums for Verve and other labels. Selected CDs: Parker, Maceo. Southern Exposure. Jive/Novus 63175-2, 1993; Parker, Maceo. Mo' Roots. Verve 314-511068-2, 1991.

Pettiford, Doc
1930's "territory band" leader from Fayetteville, NC? (Mentioned in Dizzy Gilliespie's autobiography, To Be, or Not...to Bop, p. 32)

Prysock, Red (Wilburt, also Wilbert)
Tenor saxophonist; b. Pomona, NC, 2/2/25-7/19/93. Brother to vocalist Arthur Prysock, b. Spartanburg, SC, 1/2/24. Sources: Feather and Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, 1999; New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed.

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Reed, Waymon
All Music Guide Entry
Trumpeter; b. Fayetteville, NC, 1/10/40-11/25/83. Sources: Feather and Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, 1999; New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed.

Reeder, Herbert
Saxophonist from Flat Rock, NC? Played with many Charlotte-based musicians and orchestras from 1925-50. Source: Melick, Phil. "More Jazz from Charlotte." Storyville 109 (Oct./Nov. 1983): 14-19 (includes 1927 portrait).

Reynolds, Frankie, and His Orchestra
"Territory band" leader during the 1930s; recorded in Charlotte, August 1937. Sources: McCarthy, Albert. “The Territory Bands: The Southern States.” Big Band Jazz. London: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1974. Selected CDs: Tar Heel Jazz. IAJRC CD 1002 (Originally recorded 1936-37. Rare territory bands recorded in Charlotte. Order direct from the International Association of Jazz Record Collectors at http://www.iajrc.org/

Roach, Max (Maxwell)
All Music Guide Entry
Drummer, composer, arranger; b. New Land (Dismal Swamp), NC, 1/10/24- . The Roach family left North Carolina for Brooklyn when Max was 4. According to Roach in later interviews, he was influenced by the stories and music of his extended North Carolina family. His mother had been a gospel singer and his aunt had been the church pianist at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Dismal Swamp, NC. It was his aunt who first introduced him to music, “the fundamentals—scales, how to read and play church music, and things like that.” In the 1984 documentary Repercussions, Roach adds, “if there’s anything musical about me, it really started in the church, at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church.” Roach is credited as being among the first musicians to blend jazz with the sounds of social protest during the height of the civil rights movement. Sources: Brower, W.A. “Master Roach.” American Visions 7 (April/May 1992): 42-44; Feather and Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, 1999; Fox, Charles. “Sit Down and Listen: The Story of Max Roach.” Repercussions: A Celebration of African American Music. Ed. Geoffrey Haydon and Dennis Marks. London: Century Publications, 1985; New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, 2nd ed.; “Rapping with Mighty Max: Max Roach on Bird, Bop, and Birthplaces (Interview).” News & Observer (Raleigh, NC), 23 December 1990, H1; Current Biography Yearbook 1986. Videos: Max Roach. Written and directed by Gérald Arnaud. Produced by Patrick Sobelman. 51 min. Films for the Humanities & Sciences, 1998; Repercussions: A Celebration of African-American Music. Directed by Geoffrey Haydon and Dennis Marks. 420 min. Home Visions, 1984 (seven programs on four videocassettes, including Program 4, “Sit Down and Listen: The Story of Max Roach"). Web Links: "MaxRoach.com." http://www.maxroach.com Selected CDs: Roach, Max. Alone Together. Verve 526373-2 (2 discs; originally recorded 1956-60); Roach, Max. Deeds, Not Words. OJC 304, 1988 (Originally recorded 1958); Roach, Max. We Insist!: Freedom Now Suite. Candid CCD-79002, 1988 (Originally recorded 1960).

Royal, Gregory Charles
Trombonist; b. Greensboro, NC, 10/10/61- . Source: Feather and Gitler's Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz, 1999;