Joe Wilder: A True Living Legend
Posted: 2006-02-10


By Greg Thomas
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Joe Wilder, a true living legend of the trumpet, is at long last getting what fellow brass great Roy Eldridge used to call “his screen credits”. After 60+ years of superlative support work in big bands, Broadway pit orchestras and commercials, Wilder is finally headlining his own quartet at the Village Vanguard.

He says in fact that it’s the first time he’s ever led a group in New York City under his own name. A long-time Harlem resident, Wilder is no stranger to playing in town however. “I used to jam at Minton’s in the ‘50s. And there was a club on 110th and 8th Avenue, I think called The Flame where Big Nick Nicholas led a group. Everyone loved him. Hot Lips Page and other great musicians from across the country would come in and jam.”

Wilder was born in Colwyn, Pennsylvania on February 22nd, 1922 into a musical family including his father Curtis, a bassist and bandleader in Philadelphia. Curtis Jr., Wilder’s older brother, also played bass. On July 1st, 2004, as the guest of the Jazz Museum in Harlem’s Harlem Speaks series, Wilder explained that although he was initially attracted to the trombone, his father bought a cornet for him and began to take him to some of his dance jobs. Wilder recalled overhearing the orchestra’s first trumpeter, Fred Beckett, grumble, “Oh my God, here comes Wilder with that damn kid again!”

His fast progress led to a regular feature on a weekly children’s radio program in Philadelphia called the Parisian Tailors’ Colored Kiddies of the Air. The youngsters were backed by bands appearing at the Lincoln Theater, including Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. “I would be playing the first trumpet part of some popular tune - just reading it note for note. And these bands would be playing backgrounds for us!” Wilder had an early encounter with Louis Armstrong on one of these occasions. “He was awfully nice to me. He gave me a pass and said, ‘You come and see Louis every day.’” Pops remembered the young trumpeter from the broadcast in later years: “He always encouraged me and I think he was proud of the fact that I made it in the studios,” Wilder recalls.

He studied at the Mastbaum School of Music in Philadelphia. Early on he was drawn to classical music but soon realized that a career in the symphony was not a realistic goal for a black musician coming of age in the late ‘30s. So Wilder began playing in big bands, leaving home in 1941 at 19 to join Les Hite’s band.

“I remember my mother standing there at the side of the bus all loaded with strangers and saying: ‘Now, you behave yourself and don’t you do anything to disgrace the family!’” She had nothing to worry about because Wilder is known as one of the most dignified gentleman in the business. In fact, when he was with the Lionel Hampton band in the early ‘40s, fellow bandmembers would offer him ten bucks if he would simply say one profane word. He politely refused.

Wilder was one of the first thousand blacks to serve in the Marines during World War II, working first in Special Weapons then gaining an assignment to the headquarters band for which he became the Assistant Bandmaster. He played in the orchestras of Jimmie Lunceford, Herbie Fields, Sam Donahue, Lucky Millinder, Dizzy Gillespie, and Noble Sissle during the ‘40s to the early ‘50’s.

His last big band gig was with the Count Basie Orchestra in 1953, after which his career remained close to home - he’s a devoted husband, father of three daughters and a grandfather too. He started playing in hit productions such as Guys and Dolls and Cole Porter’s Silk Stockings, the touring company of which he joined in late 1953. “They went first to Mr. Porter and asked if he had any objection to a black musician playing first trumpet,” Joe recalls. “All he asked was, ‘Can he play my music?’ When they told him I could, he answered, ‘Well, that’s all that matters.’”

He earned a secure place in the studio scene as a ‘first call’ musician and served on staff at ABC from 1957 to 1974. “A lot of times you just went in and were completely surprised,” he recalled. “We took pride in being able to sight-read anything that was put before us and in playing any type of music as well as the people who specialized in that particular style.”

Ed Berger, staffer at the Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutgers University currently working on a biography of Wilder, says that “in addition to his busy studio schedule, Joe continued to build a reputation as a highly original jazz soloist through his own albums for Savoy and Columbia and countless sessions as a sideman with Hank Jones, Gil Evans, Tadd Dameron, Michel Legrand, Benny Goodman and many others. He also became a favorite of vocalists, such as Billie Holiday, Lena Horne, Carmen McRae, Harry Belafonte, Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Helen Humes and Johnny Hartman, who found their own work to be greatly enhanced by Wilder’s sympathetic obligati.”

He went back to school in the ‘60s, earning a bachelor’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music. Wilder played on several occasions with the New York Philharmonic and in 1968 he became principal trumpet for the Symphony of the New World, which he characterized as “the first fully integrated symphony orchestra in the United States.” He also recorded his own album of classical trumpet pieces, fulfilling his original dream.

He’s the only surviving member of the Count Basie All-Star Orchestra seen in the classic 1959 film The Sound of Jazz, soloing on the tune “Fast and Happy Blues”. Then as now, Joe Wilder’s trumpet and flugelhorn playing are as elegant and sophisticated as the man, his approach unique and soulful like the veritable sound of jazz. His rare appearance at the Vanguard is not to be missed.

Reprinted with permission. Copyright (c) [Current Year] AllAboutJazz.com and
[Greg Thomas].

I'll be at Starbucks in front of Toshimaen Station tonight from 7:30-8:30pm with Jeff Curry's Trio. The music is free. Come on out, have a coffee and let's "hang".

Went to Body and Soul in Minami Aoyama to hear Tommy Campbell's Vocal Session Band tonight. Mannnnn it was so good to hear those cats!

Started to turn one of my long-time dreams into reality yesterday. I started writing a string quartet. Yes, that's right.....a...string...quartet! I have always enjoyed the Bartok String Quartets and was inspired from that to try and do one of my own. Now's the time. I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Have you bought and listened to Sergio Mendes' new recording, "timeless"?

No?!

Stop whatever you're doin! Go get it now!

Great recording!!!

I'm sooo into the singer, John Legend, recently. He can also be heard on the Luther Vandross Tribute CD.

I saw this story and thought some of you might be interested in this. Do you use SKYPE ?


SKYPE has saved me over $500 a month in phone calls to the USA. It's easy to use. Even if the person you are calling doesn't have SKYPE on their computer, you can call their normal number using SKYPEOUT and pay a very cheap rate for overseas calls.


I read in JAPAN, Inc. magazine recently about a "shake-up" in the Japanese cellphone industry. Horie, President of LIVEDOOR. You know, the guy who has been sitting in jail on "suspicion" of securities violations. He was planning to release his own line of cellphones in Japan fully loaded with SKYPE. You could make free international calls on your cellphone from Japan. ahhhh yes...the picture is getting clearer now........

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
Skype Coming to Mobile Phones Through Hutchison 3

News : VoIP, posted 16-FEB-2006 09:44



Skype and the Hutchison 3 Group have announced an agreement to enable Skype communications on 3G. The companies plan to give users the ability to enjoy Skype anywhere they go, whether at home, in the office or on the move while on Hutchison's 3 networks.

Hutchison views Skype as an attractive value added service, providing customers with more choice and thus further accelerating the uptake of the Hutchison's 3G services.

"With Skype on mobile devices, people can keep in touch with friends, family and colleagues wherever they go. This takes Skype beyond the PC into the mobile world," said Niklas Zennstrom, Skype CEO and co-founder. "I believe this will accelerate the adoption and use of Skype to new levels."

Hutchison 3 Group expects to be the first to market the Skype-enabled mobile devices. Hutchison is running friendly user trials to optimize the user experience and plans to launch later this year, following its trials, in countries including Austria, Australia, Hong Kong, Sweden, the UK and Italy. Trials will be carried out using enabled mobile phones from leading phone manufacturers.

3 Sweden is already offering a Skype bundle with a 3G flat-rate subscription and 3G data card. With a mobile flat-rate data plan from Hutchison 3, users can make unlimited Skype calls.

While the specific models are not disclosed, rumours on the Internet pointed to a Symbian version of Skype being currently under development.

Skype for mobile devices offers a number of features, including Skype-to-Skype and SkypeOut calls, Instant Messaging and group chat, Voicemail and easy contact search.

I can't wait to go to Okinawa! I have a feeling that I want to live in Okinawa or Hawaii.......

If I was a boxer you couldn't beat me by knocking me down (that makes me stronger)...you gotta completely "take me out" to win

.

Did a gig at the Tokyo Four Seasons Hotel tonight for Netz Toyota. What a great gig! I say that because the feeling in the band was just sooo damn nice. We didn't do any special musical arrangements. Just played some old standards....very simple...nothing complicated. We played for a nice group of people that seemed like they were really listening and enjoying themselves. It's a gig like that that keeps me going out and doing this.

Played a pretty lame gig today. A bridal fair. The couples shopping around for a place to "get hitched". Of course I had to play as softly as possible...to be seen (that "cool" gaijin [foreigner] thing) and not heard. It felt cheap....felt like I was doing something bad for "the music". I know.. I know....we all have to "make a living". I've just been extremely lucky not to have to play a lot of b---sh-- gigs. And the ones I have done, I was able to make a little hipper than maybe it was supposed to be. ANYWAY, the gig sucked. The musicians were fine (haha..in case you happen to be reading this...it had nothing to do with you...hahha). But, maybe I was too aware of the room. Maybe I noticed people too much. I didn't get the feeling these people were getting married. I didn't see anyone that looked very happy...or very romantic. Although the ladies did show a lot of enthusiasm for the dessert bar..hahaha....stuffing their little cheeks like squirrels. It was just sort of bizzare. People being herded through there like cattle. And I know on the wedding day, there will 5-7 weddings in that place!. Again, just herded through like cattle. Do your little ceremony...have a singer come in and do a couple of gospel tunes...company boss gives a speech...couple of toasts...cut the cake and you're "outta there"....NEXT!

I guess the money was ok. I'm probably not supposed to complain. Just keep my mouth shut and take the money. Thank God i have a lot of projects going that keep me satisfied inside. If I had to rely on that kind of work to make a living, I would go crazy.

How many more people have to die in Iraq? What are we doing? I just don't get it.........

Another trip to the dentist tomorrow. I'm having a root canal done. In the past two years, I've lost 3 teeth and had 3 root canals and now have a few other teeth that need some work. It's kind of embarassassing but, this is the result of having radiation treatments to the face and neck after cancer.

Back in 1991-92 when I was having cancer treatments, the doctors told me that I would probably have trouble with my teeth years later. So, about 2-3 years ago it really started.

This past week, I played the trumpet very little because of swelling in my jaw and an infection and a lot of pain in one of my teeth.

I can only hope and pray that I will be able to continue to play the horn for many years to come.

If cancer couldn't stop me from playing trumpet, I don't think anything else will either.

Had a fun gig at Miles cafe with Jeff Curry's , Outer Rim, band.

Got this email forwarded to me from my Uncle David in West Virginia.

Wednesday night 2/15 at Miles Cafe with Jeff Curry's, "Outer Rim", band.

I watched a REALLY sad movie....."The Assassination of Richard Nixon"....one of the most depressing movies I've ever seen.

Today I joined a great "indie" site for music and video artists. You can view my new info there at Neil Stalnaker's [indie911]

At indie911 you can listen to and download mp3's, look at music videos, short films, musicians web sites, schedules and much much more! Check it out!!!

Had a really fun recording session today at Victor Studios in Shibuya, Tokyo. We were recording some very cool music written by Norihiko Hibino for video games.

Shinsei Bank

2/09/06 While Taking A Walk....

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I saw this collection of childrens' drawings on a wall along Kawagoekaido.

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http://www.neilstalnaker.com

http://neilstalnaker.blogspot.com

2/09/06 While Taking A Walk....

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I saw this collection of childrens' drawings on a wall along Kawagoekaido.

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http://www.neilstalnaker.com

http://neilstalnaker.blogspot.com

2/09/06 While Taking A Walk....

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I saw this collection of childrens' drawings on a wall along Kawagoekaido.

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http://www.neilstalnaker.com

http://neilstalnaker.blogspot.com

Here is a photo that I uploaded from my to computer to Flickr. Flickr is an online photo storage site and they also have blog space. Also, I can take a photo on my cellphone and email it to my Flickr storage area and the photo and any text will be forwarded automatically to my blog, Tokyo Nights. Actually, there are many uses you can get from having a FREE Flickr account.

Here is a photo that I uploaded from my to computer to Flickr. Flickr is an online photo storage site and they also have blog space. Also, I can take a photo on my cellphone and email it to my Flickr storage area and the photo and any text will be forwarded automatically to my blog, Tokyo Nights. Actually, there are many uses you can get from having a FREE Flickr account.

I have lived 17,168 days. It's so strange to think about it in terms of days.

47

Yes! The Pittsburgh Steelers have done it again!

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!!!!

Sittin here listening to two new CD's I bought earlier tonight. Kirk Franklin's new recording, HERO, and Michael Jackson's INVINCIBLE. Two great recordings!!! Don't know Kirk Franklin? I didn't either until today. I bought a copy of Billboard Magazine and was looking at the "charts". Kirk Franklin's CD is #1 in on the Contemporary Christian and #1 on the Gospel charts. He's also on the R&B/Hip Hop charts and the lbum is on the top 200 overall. If you don't have it, GO GET IT!

I'm checking out a couple of tunes on this Michael Jackson, INVINCIBLE, recording. David King used to sing Butterflies at Pickford (former R&B club in Roppongi, Tokyo) and I thought it was a great tune. There are so many great songs on this CD.

Got an email today from a buddy. He was at an outdoor cafe and someone brought 2 dogs and had them on the table eating brownies!!!! He remembered how I went off about that a few months ago in this blog and said he was thinking about me. I told him I wished he had snapped a picture with his cellphone and sent it to me so that I could put it in the blog.

Am I crazy? I sure as hell don't want to be the next customer to sit down and drink coffee and have a snack after somebody had their dog on the table dropping who knows what from you know where.

Anyway...if anyone out there has a chance to get a pic of some of cafe dogs please send to me so I can continue on my cafe reform campaign

Nice weather in Tokyo today. Took my walk this morning. Spent an hour studying Japanese at the cafe. Walked back and stopped in the park to work-out.

I really like that time everyday. I feel so fortunate to be able to do that.

Spending a lot of time at
home these days. Working like
crazy on several different things. Especially spending a lot of time writing
some new music.

Not thinking much about sleep. Finally
went to bed at 9am the other morning.
Sometimes fall asleep early and wake up at strange times. Had a great tune going

in my head in a dream this morning. But,
I had put the keyboard away last night and by the time I got to it this morning, I had "lost" the tune.
Setting up a tour for the end of
March now. I'll be traveling alone and playing with different people every night in each city....my 6th tour in Japan. Studying Japanese a lot everyday recently.
Enjoying!

Really interested in video recently.
I'm especially interested to combine music and video....tell a story.
I'm practicing singing at home. Yes! Practicing singing. I've a had a fantasy for many years of being a singer. I'm gonna do it. Using MIDI with the Mac G5 recently and I'm crazy about working with string samples. I've also had a fantasy about composing a string quartet in my lifetime. I want to do trumpet CD with
strings. It's about 3:30 am now. Just finished watching
a couple episodes of a show called GRID. Kind of the same theme as 24...counter-terrorism. It was great. Really enjoyed.
Gotta sign-off for now. Going to
sleep for a few hours. Anxious to get up
and write some music and play the horn in the
morning. Have to teach some trumpet later in the day.

4am
Recorded December 2004 Tokyo, Japan

• Neil Stalnaker - trumpet
• Yuichi Inoue - piano
• Tsutomu Kuroda - bass
• Mike Reznikoff - drums

Video recording January 31, 2006
Tokyo, Kami-Itabashi, Japan

• Michiyo Nomura - video recording
• Neil Stalnaker - video recording

©2006 www.neilstalnaker.com