Roosevelt Wardell (1933 – April 29, 1999) was an American

jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a major ...

and

rhythm and blues Rhythm and blues, frequently abbreviated as R&B or R'n'B, is a genre of popular music that originated in African-American communities in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly ...

pianist, singer, and composer.

Life and career

Wardell was co-leader for two singles – "So Glad I'm Free" and "Deep Moanin' Blues" – that were recorded with Ed Wiley for

Atlantic Records Atlantic Recording Corporation (simply known as Atlantic Records) is an American record label founded in October 1947 by Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson. Over its first 20 years of operation, Atlantic earned a reputation as one of the most i ...

and released in 1952. In November of the same year, Wardell was pianist for recordings led by vocalist Johnny O'Neal and by guitarist Earl Hooker; these were released by King Records.Danchin, Sebastian (2001) ''Earl Hooker, Blues Master''. University Press of Mississippi. Variations on this small group played in the Florida area at around the same time. Wardell recorded again early in 1953, with Wiley and his orchestra. Wardell was in the army for part of the 1950s. Wardell's only album as leader was ''The Revelation'', for

Riverside Records Riverside Records was an American jazz record company and label. Founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer, Jr, under his firm Bill Grauer Productions in 1953, the label played an important role in the jazz record industry for a decade. Riverside ...

in October 1960.Norwood, Doug (September 1, 2012) ''IAJRC Journal''. The session was arranged for him by saxophonist and A&R man

Cannonball Adderley Julian Edwin "Cannonball" Adderley (September 15, 1928August 8, 1975) was an American jazz alto saxophonist of the hard bop era of the 1950s and 1960s. Adderley is perhaps best remembered for the 1966 soul jazz single "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", whi ...

, who had heard him playing. This was a trio recording, with Sam Jones on bass and Louis Hayes on drums, and featured standards and three originals from Wardell. Wardell's final recordings were two tracks in 1963, for a band led by

Earl Anderza Peter Earl Anderza (October 24, 1933 – 1982) was an American West Coast jazz alto saxophonist who recorded only two albums. ''Outa Sight'' (Pacific Jazz 1962, features pianist Jack Wilson and drummer Donald Dean. The bassist is either Jimmy Bond ...

. Wardell died in Smyrna, Delaware on April 29, 1999.

Playing style

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...

'' magazine commented on Wardell's "lightning-fast rippling run technique, with occasional passages of full, rich block chords" on his album."Reviews and Ratings of New Albums". (March 20, 1961) ''Billboard Music Week''. p. 30.

Influence

Pianist Horace Tapscott listed Wardell as one of the musicians who had influenced him.Cohen, Elaine "Horace Tapscott: Part 2, Interview". ''Cadence''. Volume 10.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wardell, Roosevelt 1934 births American jazz pianists American male pianists 1999 deaths 20th-century American pianists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians