Pianist/composer Duke Pearson born 1932 in Atlanta, GA. Pearson played in a group with Donald Byrd, The Byrd-Pearson band and consisted of musicians such as Chick Corea, Pepper Adams, Garnett Brown and 2009 Indy jazz Fest performer Randy Brecker.
Pianist Carl Perkins was born on this day in 1928 in Indianapolis, IN.
Pianist Oscar Peterson born 1925 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Peterson and Indianapolis native J.J. Johnson both played in the group, Jazz at the Philharmonic.
Pianist/vibraphonist Eddie Costa born 1930 in Atlas, PA. Costa played in the orchestra that recorded the Curtis Fuller album, Cabin in the Sky (Impulse Records, 1962) with Indianapolis native Freddie Hubbard.
Pianist Mulgrew Miller born 1955 in Greenwood, MS. Miller played on the album, Double Take, with Woody Shaw and Indianapolis native Freddie Hubbard.
Clarinetist/bandleader Benny Goodman records Fletcher Henderson’s arrangement of Fats Waller’s “Stealin’ Apples”, 1939. Fats Waller recorded for the Indiana based record label, Gennett Records from Richmond.
Pianist/bandleader Claude Thornhill born 1909 in Terre Haute, IN.
Saxophonist/composer/bandleader Benny Carter born 1907 in New York, NY. Carter made the song, “Indiana” (also known colloquially as “Back Home Again in Indiana”), which is sung at the opening of every Indianapolis 500, very famous.
Trumpeter Frankie Newton and bassist John Kirby record “Emperor Jones” with Charlie Barnet 1937. Newton played with Billie Holiday on the Strange Fruit sessions, a song that was rumored to have been written about lynchings that happened in Marion, Indiana.
Guitarist Herb Ellis born 1921 in Farmersville, TX. Indianapolis native Melvin Rhyne played on Ellis’ album, Roll Call. (Justice Records, 1991)
Tenor saxophonist/composer Wayne Shorter records JuJu with Indianapolis native Freddie Hubbard on trumpet, pianist McCoy Tyner, bassist Reggie Workman and drummer Elvin Jones, 1964.
Trumpeter Clifford Brown and drummer Max Roach record “Parisian Thoroughfare”, 1954. Indianapolis born pianist, Carl Perkins performed with an early version of the Max Roach-Clifford Brown quartet and appears on The Best of Max Roach and Clifford Brown, a live album that features “Parisian Thoroughfare”.