Teddy Wilson Orchestra - There's A Lull In My Life (1937)

Theodore Shaw "Teddy" Wilson (Nov.24, 1912July 31,1986)

was a jazz pianist from the United States born in Austin, Texas.

His sophisticated and elegant style graced the records of many of the biggest names in jazz, including Louis Armstrong, Lena Horne, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

Wilson studied piano and violin at Tuskegee Institute. After working in the Lawrence "Speed" Webb band, with Louis Armstrong and also 'understudying' Earl Hines is Hines's Grand Terrace Cafe Orchestra, Wilson joined Benny Carter's Chocolate Dandies in 1933. In 1935 he joined the Benny Goodman Trio (which consisted of Goodman, Wilson and drummer Gene Krupa, later expanded to the Benny Goodman Quartet with the addition of Lionel Hampton). The trio performed during the big band's intermissions. By joining the trio, Wilson became the first black musician to perform in public with a previously all-white jazz group.

The noted jazz writer and producer John Hammond was instrumental in getting Wilson a contract with Brunswick, starting in 1935, to record hot swing arrangements of the popular songs of the day, with the growing jukebox trade in mind. He recorded fifty hit records with various singers such as Lena Horne and Helen Ward, including many of Billie Holiday's greatest successes. During these years he also took part in many highly regarded sessions with a wide range of important swing musicians, such as Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Norvo, Buck Clayton and Ben Webster.

Wilson formed his own short-lived big band in 1939, then led a sextet at Cafe Society from 1940 to 1944. He was known to many as the "Marxist Mozart."


Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson Orchestra - There's A Lull In My Life (1937)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Billie
• Holiday
• Teddy
• Wilson
• Orchestra
• Theres
• Lull
• In
• My
• Life
• 1937

[fromthesidelines]

That's definitely Helen Ward, from a session recorded on April 23, 1937. Harry James is also playing trumpet; personnel from Benny's and Teddy's bands often worked on each other's recordings...

[Corrie121]

Wonderful!!! This says it all really!

Thank you for your fabulous postings. I look forward to them with great anticipation.

[avdreader1]

Iwish this music were popular today. Most music is trash. I really like this!

[Anaxiphile]

Clearly Helen Ward, who tended to sound like Mildred Bailey, particularly when she sang with Teddy Wilson.

[johnnycchops]

Johnny Hodges, alto sax solo.

[JoshGold34]

This is the first Billy that I've liked..gr8...thanx....

[Mornyful]

I've just come across this and I too immediately could hear this isn't Billie. How strange that the cover shows otherwise. Yes, it does sound like Helen Ward.

[sirjuandabicho]

Fabuloso, muchas gracias.

[helluvagun]

Helen Ward retired too early from the limelight! Barely in her twenties, recorded later though on and off!

[charlestil]

The singer is the very fine early Benny Goodman band girl vocalist, Helen Ward. There's no question about it. Nice recording, isn't it?

[ccaammiiittoo]

It would certainly interesting to know who the singer is , for certain. We can rule out Ivie Anderson, whose rendition of the song I have. And it's definitely not Ella, who has done the song many times.