Willie Henry Ruff Jr. (born September 1, 1931) is 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 m ...
musician, specializing in the
French horn
The French horn (since the 1930s known simply as the horn in professional music circles) is a brass instrument made of tubing wrapped into a coil with a flared bell. The double horn in F/B (technically a variety of German horn) is the horn most ...
and
double bass
The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...
, and a music scholar and educator, primarily as a Yale professor from 1971 to 2017.
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music (often abbreviated to YSM) is one of the 12 professional schools at Yale University. It offers three graduate degrees: Master of Music (MM), Master of Musical Arts (MMA), and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), as well as a join ...
as an undergraduate (
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music (BM or BMus) is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of a program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree, and the majority of work consists of pre ...
Dwike Mitchell
Dwike Mitchell (born Ivory Mitchell Jr.; February 14, 1930 – April 7, 2013) was an American piano player and teacher. He began his career as pianist for the Lionel Hampton Orchestra before joining Willie Ruff to form The Mitchell-Ruff Duo jazz ...
for over 50 years. Mitchell and Ruff first met in 1947, when they were teenaged servicemen stationed at the former Lockbourne Air Force Base in
Ohio
Ohio () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Of the List of states and territories of the United States, fifty U.S. states, it is the List of U.S. states and territories by area, 34th-l ...
; Mitchell recruited Ruff to play bass with his unit band for an
Air Force
An air force – in the broadest sense – is the national military branch that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an ...
radio program
A radio program, radio programme, or radio show is a segment of content intended for broadcast on radio. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series. A single program in a series is called an episode.
Radio netwo ...
. Mitchell and Ruff later played in
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton (April 20, 1908 – August 31, 2002) was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, and bandleader. Hampton worked with jazz musicians from Teddy Wilson, Benny Goodman, and Buddy Rich, to Charlie Parker, Charles ...
's band but left in 1955 to form their own group. Together as the Mitchell-Ruff Duo, they played as "second act" to artists such as
Louis Armstrong
Louis Daniel Armstrong (August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971), nicknamed "Satchmo", "Satch", and "Pops", was an American trumpeter and Singing, vocalist. He was among the most influential figures in jazz. His career spanned five decades and se ...
,
Count Basie
William James "Count" Basie (; August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. In 1935, he formed the Count Basie Orchestra, and in 1936 took them to Chicago for a long engagement and the ...
,
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...
, 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 a ...
. From 1955 to 2011, the duo regularly performed and lectured in the United States, Asia, Africa, and Europe. The Mitchell-Ruff Duo was the first jazz band to play in the Soviet Union (1959) and in China (1981). Mitchell died in 2013.
Ruff was chosen by John Hammond to be the bass player for the recording sessions of '' Songs of Leonard Cohen'', an album first released in 1967. During those sessions, he and Cohen laid down the bed tracks for most of the songs on the album.
He is one of the founders of the W. C. Handy Music Festival in Florence, Alabama. The first festival was held in 1982.
Teaching
Ruff was a faculty member at the
Yale School of Music
The Yale School of Music (often abbreviated to YSM) is one of the 12 professional schools at Yale University. It offers three graduate degrees: Master of Music (MM), Master of Musical Arts (MMA), and Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA), as well as a join ...
from 1971 until his retirement in 2017, teaching music history,
ethnomusicology
Ethnomusicology is the study of music from the cultural and social aspects of the people who make it. It encompasses distinct theoretical and methodical approaches that emphasize cultural, social, material, cognitive, biological, and other dim ...
, and arranging. Ruff's classes at Yale, often with partner Dwike Mitchell, were free-flowing jam sessions: roller-coaster rides through the colors of American Improvisational Music. The duo could play in the style of most notable jazz artists and related styles. They had a large repertoire.
He is founding Director of the Duke Ellington Fellowship Program at
Yale
Yale University is a private research university in New Haven, Connecticut. Established in 1701 as the Collegiate School, it is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and among the most prestigious in the wor ...
, a community-based organization sponsoring artists mentoring and performing with Yale students and young musicians from the New Haven Public School System. The program was founded in 1972 as a "Conservatory Without Walls" to "'capture the essence and spirit' of the tradition of African-American music". By its 30th anniversary in 2002, the program had reached an estimated 180,000 students in New Haven schools.
In 1976-1977, he held a visiting appointment at
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university in Durham, North Carolina. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present-day city of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco and electric power industrialist Jam ...
, where he oversaw the jazz program and directed the Duke Jazz Ensemble.
Ruff has also been on faculty at UCLA and Dartmouth.
Awards
He is a 1994 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame.
Ruff received the Connecticut Governor's Arts Award in 2000 for his work with the Duke Ellington Fellowship Program.
Ruff was awarded with the Sanford Medal in May 2013. The Sanford Medal is the highest honor from Yale University's School of Music.
Publications
Ruff is known for uncovering links between
traditional black gospel
Traditional Black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding African American Christian life, as well as (in terms of the varying music styles) to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular mu ...
lining out
Lining out or hymn lining, called precenting the line in Scotland, is a form of a cappella hymn-singing or hymnody in which a leader, often called the clerk or precentor, gives each line of a hymn tune as it is to be sung, usually in a chanted for ...
– in which a
precentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is ''præcentor'', from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" (or alternatively, "first ...
read or chanted a line of the psalm, which was then sung by the congregation – led to the
call and response
Call and response is a form of interaction between a speaker and an audience in which the speaker's statements ("calls") are punctuated by responses from the listeners. This form is also used in music, where it falls under the general category of ...
form of black gospel music. Ruff co-created the documentary "A Conjoining of Ancient Song", which focuses on a rapidly vanishing form of congregational singing that is shared by Scottish, African American, and Native American music. It received its world premiere screening at Yale in 2013. Ruff's work in this area is also a subject of
Sterlin Harjo
Sterlin Harjo (born November 14, 1979)Sam Lewin ''Native Times News'', reprinted in ''Canku Ota'', May 24, 2004 (article gives his age as 24 in 2004). is an American filmmaker. He has directed three feature films, a feature documentary, and the F ...
's 2014 documentary film, ''
This May Be the Last Time
''This May Be the Last Time'' is a 2014 American documentary film produced and directed by Sterlin Harjo. The film had its world premiere at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014.
After its premiere at Sundance Film Festival, Sundance Ch ...
''.
He has written about classical composer
Paul Hindemith
Paul Hindemith (; 16 November 189528 December 1963) was a German composer, music theorist, teacher, violist and conductor. He founded the Amar Quartet in 1921, touring extensively in Europe. As a composer, he became a major advocate of the ' ...
, who was one of his teachers at Yale, and about his professional experiences with jazz composers
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington (April 29, 1899 – May 24, 1974) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and leader of his eponymous jazz orchestra from 1923 through the rest of his life. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Ellington was bas ...
and
Billy Strayhorn
William Thomas Strayhorn (November 29, 1915 – May 31, 1967) was an American jazz composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger, who collaborated with bandleader and composer Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. His compositions include " Take ...
.
In 1992, Ruff published his memoir, titled ''A Call to Assembly: The Autobiography of a Musical Storyteller''. The autobiography was hailed as "an unmitigated delight" and was awarded the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award.
Discography
Solo
* ''The Smooth Side of Ruff'' (Columbia, 1968)
* ''Gregorian Chant, Plain Chant, and Spirituals Recorded in Saint Mark's Cathedral, Venice'' (Kepler Label, 1984; CD reissue 2003)
With the Mitchell-Ruff Duo
* ''The Mitchell-Ruff Duo'' (Epic, 1956)
* ''Campus Concert'' (Epic, 1957; 2002 Sony CD reissue combined with ''Brazilian Trip'')
* ''Appearing Nightly'' (
Roulette Records
Roulette Records was an American record company and label founded in 1957 by George Goldner, Joe Kolsky, Morris Levy and Phil Kahl, with creative control given to producers and songwriters Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore. Levy was appointed ...
), 1958)
* ''Jazz Mission to Moscow'' (Roulette, 1959)
* ''The Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein'' (Roulette, 1960)
* ''The Mitchell-Ruff Duo plus Strings & Brass'' (Roulette, 1960)
* ''Jazz for Juniors'' (Roulette, 1960)
* ''Brazilian Trip'' (
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. The label was founded predominantly as a jazz and classical m ...
, 1967; Forma Records 1966 Brazilian release as '' A Viagem'' with different track order and names; 2002 Sony CD reissue combined with ''Campus Concert'')
* ''
Dizzy Gillespie and the Mitchell Ruff Duo in Concert
''Dizzy Gillespie and the Mitchell Ruff Duo in Concert'' is a live album by trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie and the Mitchell-Ruff Duo recorded at Dartmouth College in 1971 and released on the Mainstream label.f the duoreissue, Kepler Label, CD MR-2421, 2004)
* '' Dizzy Gillespie Live With The Mitchell-Ruff Duo'' (Book-of-the-Month Club Records, 1982, 3-record-set; first record is same as the Mainstream 1971 record)
* ''Virtuoso Elegance in Jazz'' (Kepler Label, M-R 1234, 1984; CD reissue 2003)
* ''Dizzy Gillespie and the Mitchell-Ruff Duo: Enduring Magic'' (
Blackhawk Records Black Hawk and Blackhawk may refer to:
Animals
* Black Hawk (horse), a Morgan horse that lived from 1833 to 1856
* Common black hawk, ''Buteogallus anthracinus''
* Cuban black hawk, ''Buteogallus gundlachii''
* Great black hawk, ''Buteogallus urub ...
, 1986)
* ''Breaking the Silence'' - The Mitchell-Ruff Duo (Kepler Label, CD 2380, 2000)
With the Mitchell-Ruff Trio Charlie_Smith,_on_drums.html" ;"title="Charlie_Smith_(drummer).html" ;"title="ncluding Charlie Smith (drummer)">Charlie Smith, on drums">Charlie_Smith_(drummer).html" ;"title="ncluding Charlie Smith (drummer)">Charlie Smith, on drums/h2>
* ''The Catbird Seat'' (Atlantic, 1961; reissued on CD combined with Les McCann, ''Much Les'' as ''20 Special Fingers'')
* ''After this Message'' (Atlantic, 1966)
With John Rodgers
* ''The Harmony of the World: A Realization for the Ear of Johannes Kepler's Astronomical Data from Harmonices Mundi 1619'' (Kepler Label, 1979; CD reissue [date?])
Gil Evans & Ten
''Gil Evans & Ten'' (also released as ''Big Stuff'' and ''Gil Evans + Ten'') is the first album by pianist, conductor, arranger and composer Gil Evans as a leader, released on the Prestige label in 1957. It features Evans' arrangements of five st ...
'' (Prestige, 1957)
With
Benny Golson
Benny Golson (born January 25, 1929) is an American bebop/ hard bop jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He came to prominence with the big bands of Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie, more as a writer than a performer, before laun ...
* ''
Take a Number from 1 to 10
''Take a Number from 1 to 10'' is an album by saxophonist Benny Golson, featuring performances recorded in late 1960 and early 1961 and originally released on the Argo label.
'' (Argo, 1961)
With
Bobby Hutcherson
Robert Hutcherson (January 27, 1941 – August 15, 2016) was an American jazz vibraphone and marimba player. "Little B's Poem", from the 1966 Blue Note album ''Components'', is one of his best-known compositions.Huey, Steve. "Components – Bob ...
Milt Jackson
Milton Jackson (January 1, 1923 – October 9, 1999), nicknamed "Bags", was an American jazz vibraphonist, usually thought of as a bebop player, although he performed in several jazz idioms. He is especially remembered for his cool swinging so ...
For Someone I Love
''For Someone I Love'' is an album by vibraphonist Milt Jackson featuring big band performances arranged by Melba Liston recorded in 1963 and released on the Riverside label.
'' (Riverside, 1963)
With
Quincy Jones
Quincy Delight Jones Jr. (born March 14, 1933) is an American record producer, musician, songwriter, composer, arranger, and film and television producer. His career spans 70 years in the entertainment industry with a record of 80 Grammy Award n ...
965
Year 965 ( CMLXV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.
Events
By place
Byzantine Empire
* Arab–Byzantine War: Emperor Nikephoros II conquers the fortress cities of Ta ...
With
Lalo Schifrin
Boris Claudio "Lalo" Schifrin (born June 21, 1932) is an Argentine-American pianist, composer, arranger and conductor. He is best known for his large body of film and TV scores since the 1950s, incorporating jazz and Latin American musical eleme ...
*''
Once a Thief and Other Themes
''Once a Thief and Other Themes'' is an album of film and television themes by Argentine composer, pianist and conductor Lalo Schifrin recorded in 1965 and released on the Verve label.Payne, DLalo Schifrin discographyaccessed March 14, 2012 The a ...
Hoochie Coochie Man
"Hoochie Coochie Man" (originally titled "I'm Your Hoochie Cooche Man") is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954. The song makes reference to hoodoo folk magic elements and makes novel use of a sto ...
'' (1966)
With
Sonny Stitt
Edward Hammond Boatner Jr. (February 2, 1924 – July 22, 1982), known professionally as Sonny Stitt, was an American jazz saxophonist of the bebop/ hard bop idiom. Known for his warm tone, he was one of the best-documented saxophonists of h ...
*''
Sonny Stitt & the Top Brass
''Sonny Stitt & the Top Brass'' is an album by saxophonist Sonny Stitt recorded in 1962 and released on the Atlantic label.
'' (Atlantic, 1962)
With
Leonard Cohen
Leonard Norman Cohen (September 21, 1934November 7, 2016) was a Canadian singer-songwriter, poet and novelist. His work explored religion, politics, isolation, depression, sexuality, loss, death, and romantic relationships. He was inducted in ...
* ''Tony Williams in Africa'' (37 min., 1973)
* ''The Beginnings of Bebop'' (26 min., 1981)
* ''Shanghai Blues'' (1981)
* ''The Soul of St. Simons Island, Georgia'' (1981)