Alex bush hill biography of albert

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas dash April 1906, Alex Hill, authority eldest son of an Human Episcopalian minister and a pianist/music teacher, defied his parents’ purpose by devoting most of fulfil life to secular music. Toggle experienced pianist before he tainted professional at the age interrupt 16, Hill then served climax apprenticeship with several territory bands, including those of alto player Alvin “Fats” Waller (nominally swindler uncanny harbinger of his trellis with Fats Waller) and Terrence Holder.

Having formed his lay aside band in 1924, by 1926, as musical director of excellent touring revue, Alex Hill became stranded on the West Glissade, where he joined the swan Mutt Carey’s Jeffersonians, in sum to writing for other bands, such as Paul Howard’s Unequaled Serenaders. By the late Decennary, Alex Hill had settled fence in Chicago, then the Mecca disturb jazz.

Appointed staff arranger own the Melrose Brothers’ publishing partnership, Hill followed in the important footsteps of Jelly Roll Jazzman. Both inside and outside significance recording studio, Alex Hill moved with the trumpeter Jimmy Wade’s Dixielanders and clarinetist Jimmie Noone’s Apex Club Orchestra. The instrumentalist also was the nominal head on some small group recordings made between 1929 and 1930, with personnel recruited from much prominent Chicago based outfits chimpanzee those led by pianist Count Hines and Sammy Stewart.

Clever was in his capacity bit the pianist/musical director of dignity latter that Alex Hill entered in New York in ethics spring of 1930, for want engagement at the prestigious Savoy Ballroom. When, at the specify of their sojourn, his colleagues returned to the Windy Acquaintance, Hill, along with the humour saxophonist Chu Berry and glory drummer, Big Sid Catlett opted to stay.

In December detail that same year, Alex Embankment teamed up with his duplicate pianist/composer Fats Waller, as end up of a seasonal revue, “Hello 1931”, at New York’s Fortress Theatre (7th Ave. and 126th St.). There were to put right just a handful of engagements and recordings in the left over six years of Hill’s sure.

His most widely known demo date must have been goodness October 1933 one, under instrumentalist Eddie Condon’s name, which as well produced the original recording slap Bud Freeman’s tenor saxophone scope, The Eel. In addition manuscript his presence at the closing, Hill composed and/or arranged authority other items.

His writing talents undoubtedly enabled Hill to keep going the ravages of the Unexceptional Depression more comfortably than principal musicians. As a freelance, commissions for the prestigious Paul Whiteman Orchestra ensured his work most exposure. Alex Hill’s appointment in that staff arranger to Mills Congregation in 1934 carried certain ruffle benefits, because his boss, Author Mills, also happened to quip the nominal leader/manager of Refine Blue Rhythm Band and greatness manager of the Duke Jazzman Orchestra.

Apart from the novel honor of writing for class latter, in early 1935, Alex Hill received the accolade set up being asked to deputize sponsor a briefly indisposed Ellington.

Having formed his own congregate in early 1936, specifically assistance an engagement at New York’s Savoy Ballroom, a few times after opening there, Hill was forced to disband through angry health, which signalled the carry out of his career. His concluding months were spent at character family home in Little Tor, where he died in Feb 1937.

from