Buddy DeFranco

Buddy is generally credited with leading the way for jazz clarinetists from the exciting era of swing to the exhilarating age of bop. Along the way he has set the example for all jazz musicians for technical brilliance. Improvisational virtuosity and creative warmth. He is one of the most imaginative clarinetists playing today.

Born in Camden, New Jersey, Buddy was raised in South Philadelphia and began playing the clarinet at age nine. By age fourteen he had won a national Tommy Dorsey Swing contest, and appeared on the Saturday Night Swing Club, sharing the spotlight with Gene Krupa. He was soon discovered by Johnny "Scat" Davis and began his road career with him in 1939. He joined Gene Krupa in 1941, Ted FioRito and Charlie Barnet 1942-43, Tommy Dorsey 1944-45, Boyd Raeburn 1946, Tommy Dorsey again in 1947-48. In 1950 he joined the famous Count Basie Septet. Buddy was appointed leader of the Glenn Miller Orchestra 1966-1974. Since then he has resumed his jazz career and has done countless clinics: Tri-State Festival, Stan Kenton Clinics, North Texas State Teachers College, Clinician and Soloist with the N.O.R.A.D. Band and Air Men of Note. Buddy has brought his clarinet and jazz groups to many famous clubs. His concert appearances include Norman Granz's Jazz at the Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, Hollywood Bowl, Ravinia Park with Tony Bennett, Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, Kool Jazz Festival, Aurex Jazz Festival in Japan, Bern Festival in Switzerland, Radio Cologne with Bill Holman and the Radio Cologne Orchestra, Dutch Radio with Rob Pronk & Metropole Orchestra, European Tours, the Far East, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, South Africa, and Argentina ... wherever good jazz is played!

He has made both concert and recording appearances with such stars as Art Tatum, Tal Farlow, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Stan Getz, Lenny Tristano, Nelson Riddle, Billy Eckstine, Barney Kessel, Herb Ellis, Art Blakey, Mel Torme, Louis Bellson, Terry Gibbs, Oscar Peterson, as well as several Metronome All Star Sessions. He has appeared on the Steve Allen Show, the Jerry Lewis Telethon, the Pat Sajak Show, and Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. He was the featured soloist on the Stars of Jazz T.V. Show, had his own T.V. show, "The Buddy DeFranco Jazz Forum" for Public Television, and he and Terry Gibbs shared the spotlight on a segment of the P.B.S.

Bebop, Swing, and Bella Musica: Jazz and the Italian-American Experience

by Nicholas F. Mondello
July 24, 2015

Bebop, Swing, and Bella Musica: Jazz and the Italian-American Experience Bill Dal Cerro and David Anthony Witter 384 Pages ISBN: #978-1-60461-089-5 Bella Musica Publishing 2015 In this meticulously researched and anecdote-included work, authors Bill Dal Cerro and David Anthony Witter present a truly fascinating perspective on both the history and influence of jazz musicians who were Italian immigrants or who were or are of Italian descent. Certainly, there are references ...

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Album Review

Buddy DeFranco with the John Pizzarelli Trio and Butch Miles: Cookin' The Books

Read "Cookin' The Books" reviewed by Michael P. Gladstone

by Michael P. Gladstone
May 13, 2004

How about that? Cookin' The Books provides a positive spin on the current description of corporate greed and deception. For the purposes of this album, it has been corrupted to refer to the Great American Songbook and, indeed, Buddy DeFranco and company are certainly doing a fine job of cookin' these tunes. DeFranco, in his 60th year of recording, is the clarinetist who bridged the gap between Benny Goodman (who was a great influence) and the bebop music of the ...

259

Album Review

Buddy DeFranco: Blues Bag

by AAJ Staff
August 1, 2001

Blues Bag was originally released as Veejay 2506 (thank you, Koch, for providing this data plus the players on the outside of the package). The excellent mainstream clarinetist DeFranco plays only bass clarinet here. The sidemen include a collection of masters: Art Blakey, Lee Morgan, Curtis Fuller, Victor Feldman, Freddie Hill, and Victor Sproles.

This disc sounds like a fun night at a jazz club, although it was recorded at United Studios, Hollywood, in 1964. It features one tune each ...

230

Album Review

Buddy DeFranco and Oscar Peterson: Buddy DrFranco and Oscar Peterson Play George Gershwin

Read "Buddy DrFranco and Oscar Peterson Play George Gershwin" reviewed by C. Michael Bailey

by C. Michael Bailey
October 1, 1998

And Strings Redux. A number of jazz reissues using strings have been finding their way beneath my laser. I reviewed Chet Baker and Strings last month in these virtual pages ( AJJ, September, 1998, Issue #11). Cleverly disguised as a standard jazz date, Buddy DeFranco and Oscar Peterson Play George Gershwin is a with strings recording and turns out to be a surprise on several other levels. First, I bought the disc because of Buddy DeFranco and thought how I ...

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buddy DeFranco

Source: Michael Ricci
February 17, 2023

All About Jazz is celebrating Buddy DeFranco's birthday today!

Buddy DeFranco has the unprecedented distinction of winning twenty Downbeat Magazine Awards, nine Metronome Magazine Awards, and sixteen Playboy All-Stars Awards as the number one jazz clarinetist in the world. Buddy is generally credited with leading the way for jazz clarinetists from the exciting era of swing to the exhilarating age of bop. Along the way he has set the example for all jazz musicians for technical brilliance. Improvisational virtuosity and ...
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Video / DVD

Backgrounder: Buddy DeFranco & Tommy Gumina

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
October 7, 2022

In 1960, clarinetist Buddy DeFranco and accordionist Tommy Gumina got together with bass and drums to record the first of five albums—Pacific Standard (Swingin') Time. It was on Decca. The next four were on Mercury, including their first for the label—Presenting the Buddy DeFranco/Tommy Gumina Quartet, recorded in 1961. The tracks on Presenting were When Lights Are Low, Street of Dreams, Runaway, Never On Friday, Gone With the Wind, ´S Wonderful, On Green Dolphin Street, Scrapple From the Apple, Playin´ ...
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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buddy DeFranco

Source: Michael Ricci
February 17, 2022

All About Jazz is celebrating Buddy DeFranco's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buddy DeFranco

Source: Michael Ricci
February 17, 2021

All About Jazz is celebrating Buddy DeFranco's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buddy DeFranco

Source: Michael Ricci
February 17, 2020

All About Jazz is celebrating Buddy DeFranco's birthday today!

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Buddy DeFranco

Source: Michael Ricci
February 17, 2019

All About Jazz is celebrating Buddy DeFranco's birthday today!

Place ...
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Video / DVD

Hot Track: Rumpus Room

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
October 12, 2018

Newly signed to MGM Records in 1951, clarinetist Buddy DeFranco formed a powerhouse big band featuring Bernie Glow, Don Joseph, Dickie Mills and Dale Pierce (tp); Frank “Ace" Lane, Al Robertson and Fred Zito (tb); Buddy DeFranco (cl); Angelo Cicalese and Gene Quill (as); Buddy Arnold and Eddie Wasserman (ts); Danny Bank (bar); Teddy Charles (vib); Teddy Corabi (p); Bill Anthony (b); Frank DeVito (d) and Bonnie Richards (vcl). One of the hottest songs in the band's book was Rumpus ...
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