Red Norvo (born Kenneth Norville; March 31, 1908 – April 6, 1999) was an American musician, one of jazz's early vibraphonists, known as "Mr. Swing". He helped establish the xylophone, marimba, and vibraphone as jazz instruments. His recordings included "Dance of the Octopus", "Bughouse", "Knockin' on Wood", "Congo Blues", and "Hole in the Wall".

Career

Red Norvo was born in Beardstown, Illinois, United States. His career began in Chicago with a band called "The Collegians" in 1925. He played with many other bands, including an all- marimba band on the vaudeville circuit, and the bands of Paul Whiteman,

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

, Charlie Barnet, and Woody Herman. He recorded with

Mildred Bailey Mildred Bailey (born Mildred Rinker; February 27, 1907 – December 12, 1951) was a Native American jazz singer during the 1930s, known as "The Queen of Swing", "The Rockin' Chair Lady" and "Mrs. Swing". She recorded the songs " For Sentimenta ...

(his wife from 1933 to 1942), Billie Holiday, Dinah Shore and

Frank Sinatra Francis Albert Sinatra (; December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998) was an American singer and actor. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Chairman of the Board" and later called "Ol' Blue Eyes", Sinatra was one of the most popular ...

. Norvo and his wife were known as "Mr. and Mrs. Swing." He appeared as himself in the film '' Screaming Mimi'' (1958) and in '' Ocean's 11'', accompanying

Dean Martin Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an American singer, actor and comedian. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed "The King of Cool". M ...

while he sang "

Ain't That a Kick in the Head? "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" is a pop song written in 1960 with music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Sammy Cahn. It was first recorded that year on May 10 by Dean Martin in a swinging big band jazz arrangement conducted by Nelson Riddle. Ma ...

" In 1933, he recorded two sessions for Brunswick under his own name. The first, "Knockin' on Wood" and "Hole in the Wall", pleased Brunswick's recording director Jack Kapp, and Norvo was booked for another session. This time, Kapp was out of town and Norvo went ahead and recorded two early pieces of chamber jazz: "In a Mist" by

Bix Beiderbecke Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke (March 10, 1903 – August 6, 1931) was an American jazz cornetist, pianist and composer. Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s, a cornet player noted for an inventive lyrical app ...

and Norvo's own "Dance of the Octopus". He played marimba instead of xylophone in the second session, accompanied by

in a rare performance on bass clarinet, Dick McDonough on guitar, and Artie Bernstein on double bass. Kapp was outraged when he heard the recordings and tore up Norvo's contract. Nevertheless, this modern record remained in print through the 1930s. Norvo recorded eight modern swing sides for

Columbia Columbia may refer to: * Columbia (personification), the historical female national personification of the United States, and a poetic name for America Places North America Natural features * Columbia Plateau, a geologic and geographic region in ...

in 1934–1935, and fifteen sides for Decca and their short-lived Champion label series in 1936. Starting in 1936 through 1942, Norvo formed a swing orchestra and recorded for

ARC ARC may refer to: Business * Aircraft Radio Corporation, a major avionics manufacturer from the 1920s to the '50s * Airlines Reporting Corporation, an airline-owned company that provides ticket distribution, reporting, and settlement services * ...

, first on their Brunswick label, then Vocalion and

after CBS bought ARC. The recordings featured arrangements by

Eddie Sauter Edward Ernest Sauter (December 2, 1914 – April 21, 1981) was a composer and arranger during the swing era. Biography Sauter studied music at Columbia University and the Juilliard School. He began as a drummer and then played trumpet profession ...

, often with

as vocalist. In 1938, Red Norvo and His Orchestra reached number one with their recordings of "Please Be Kind", which was number one for two weeks, and "Says My Heart", with lead vocals by Bailey, which was number one for four weeks on the pop charts, reaching number one during the week of June 18, 1938. In June 1945, while a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet, he recorded a session for

Comet Records Comet Records was an American jazz and R&B record label, founded in 1944 by Les Schriber, Sr. and Harry Alderton. The label is most known for having recorded and produced T-Bone Walker and Red Norvo. The label was acquired by Black & White Record ...

employing members of Goodman's group, as well as Charlie Parker, and

Dizzy Gillespie John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie (; October 21, 1917 – January 6, 1993) was an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator and singer. He was a trumpet virtuoso and improviser, building on the virtuosic style of Roy Eldridge but addi ...

. About the session Norvo said: "Bird and Diz were dirty words for musicians of my generation. But jazz had always gone through changes and in 1945 we were in the middle of another one. Bird and Diz were saying new things in an exciting way. I had a free hand, so I gambled". In 1949, while trying to find work near home on the West Coast and running into difficulties with large groups, Norvo formed a trio with the novel combination of vibes, guitar, and bass. When the original guitarist and bassist quit (

Mundell Lowe James Mundell Lowe (April 21, 1922 – December 2, 2017) was an American jazz guitarist who worked often in radio, television, and film, and as a session musician. He produced film and TV scores in the 1970s, such as the ''Billy Jack'' soundtrac ...

and

Red Kelly Leonard Patrick "Red" Kelly (July 9, 1927 – May 2, 2019) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player and coach. He was also a Liberal Member of Parliament for the Toronto-area riding of York West from 1962 to 1965, during which time he also ...

), he brought in two previously little-known players.

Tal Farlow Talmage Holt Farlow (June 7, 1921 – July 25, 1998) was an American jazz guitarist. He was nicknamed "Octopus" because of how his large, quick hands spread over the fretboard. As Steve Rochinski notes, "Of all the guitarists to emerge in th ...

became one of the most significant of the new generation of guitarists, in part because the demands of the trio led him to explore changes in tempo and harmony.

Charles Mingus Charles Mingus Jr. (April 22, 1922 – January 5, 1979) was an American jazz upright bassist, pianist, composer, bandleader, and author. A major proponent of collective improvisation, he is considered to be one of the greatest jazz musicians and ...

's career as a bass player developed via this group through his virtuoso musicianship,"The Red Norvo Trio was a virtuosic 'sic''bebop ensemble. Mingus provided the hythmicdrive and a solo voice equal to Norvo and Farlow." John Goldsby (2002) The Jazz Bass Book: Technique and Tradition Hal Leonard Corporation, , p. 95 though its repertoire was unconnected to his later career. Mingus left in 1951 and

Red Mitchell Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell (September 20, 1927 – November 8, 1992) was an American jazz double-bassist, composer, lyricist, and poet. Biography Mitchell was born in New York City. His younger brother, Whitey Mitchell, also became a jazz ba ...

replaced him. Farlow left the group in 1953 and guitarist Jimmy Raney took his place. The Norvo, Farlow, and Mingus trio recorded two albums for

Savoy Records Savoy Records is an American record company and label established by Herman Lubinsky in 1942 in Newark, New Jersey. Savoy specialized in jazz, rhythm and blues, and gospel music. In September 2017, Savoy was acquired by Concord Bicycle Music. ...

. In 1959, Norvo's group played concerts in Australia with

; Blue Note released these recordings in 1997. Norvo and his group also made several appearances on ''

The Dinah Shore Chevy Show ''The Dinah Shore Chevy Show'' is an American variety series hosted by Dinah Shore, and broadcast on NBC from October 1956 to May 1963. The series was sponsored by the Chevrolet Motor Division of General Motors and its theme song, sung by Shore ...

'' in the late 1950s and early '60s. Norvo recorded and toured throughout his career until a stroke in the mid-1980s forced him into retirement (although he developed hearing problems long before his stroke). He died at a convalescent home in Santa Monica, California at the age of 91.

Compositions

Red Norvo's instrumental compositions include "Dance of the Octopus", "Bughouse" (with Irving Mills and Teddy Wilson), "The Night is Blue", "A Cigarette and a Silhouette", "Congo Blues", "Seein' Red", "Blues in E Flat", "Hole in the Wall", "Knockin' on Wood", "Decca Stomp", "Tomboy", and "1-2-3-4 Jump".

Discography

* ''The Chronological 1933-36'' (Classics, 1933–36) * ''The Chronological 1937-38'' (Classics, 1937–38) * ''The Chronological 1938-39'' (Classics, 1938–39) * ''The Chronological 1939-43'' (Classics, 1939–43) * ''The Chronological 1943-44'' (Classics, 1943–44) * ''The Chronological 1944-45'' (Classics, 1944–45) * ''The Chronological 1945-47'' (Classics, 1945–47) * ''The Chronological 1950-51'' (Classics, 1950–51) * ''Red Norvo Improvisations'' (Keynote, 1944) * ''Red Norvo's Fabulous Jazz Session'' (Dial, 1945) * ''Move!'' (Savoy, 1950) rio with Tal Farlow & Charles Mingus* ''The Red Norvo Trios'' (Fantasy, 1953–55) * ''Just A Mood'' (RCA Bluebird, 1954–55) * ''Red Norvo with Strings'' (Fantasy, 1955) * ''Vibe-Rations in Hi-Fi'' ( Liberty, 1956) * ''Midnight on Cloud 69'' (Savoy, 1956) * ''Music to Listen to Red Norvo By'' ( Contemporary, 1957) * 'Hi-Five'' (RCA Victor, 1957) * ''Ad Lib'' with Buddy Collette (Liberty, 1957) * ''Some of My Favorites'' (RCA, 1957) * ''Naturally!'' (1957) * ''The Forward Look'' (Reference Recordings, 1957) * ''Red Plays the Blues'' (RCA Victor, 1958) * ''Red Norvo in Hi-Fi'' (RCA Victor, 1958) (the Stereo Version Titled "Red Norvo in Stereo'') * ''Windjammer City Style'' ( Dot, 1958) * ''The Red Norvo Quintet'' (Studio West, 1962) * ''Pretty Is the Only Way to Fly'' (Charlie Parker, 1962) * ''Rose Room'' (Byg, 1969) * ''Vibes a la Red'' (Famous Door, 1974-75) * ''The Second Time Around'' (Famous Door, 1975) * ''Red In New York'' (Famous Door, 1977) * ''Live at Rick's Cafe'' ( Flying Fish, 1979) * ''Red and Ross'' (

Concord Jazz Concord Jazz is a record company and label founded in 1973 by Carl Jefferson, the former owner of Jefferson Motors Lincoln Mercury dealership in Concord, California. The label was named after the city in the East San Francisco Bay area, and the j ...

, 1979) * ''Just Friends'' ( Stash, 1983)

Filmography

References

External links

Red Norvo: 'Mr. Swing' at NPR Jazz Profiles

Red Norvo Interview
NAMM Oral History Library (1994) {{DEFAULTSORT:Norvo, Red Bebop musicians Big band bandleaders 1908 births 1999 deaths American jazz vibraphonists People from Beardstown, Illinois Vaudeville performers Savoy Records artists 20th-century American musicians Jazz musicians from Illinois Burials at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica Concord Records artists Jazz vibraphonists Xylophonists