Barrie Lee Hall Jr. facts for kids

Barrie Lee Hall Jr. (June 30, 1949 – January 24, 2011) was an amazing American trumpet player. He also directed music and led the Duke Ellington Small Band. He was famous for using a plunger mute on his trumpet. This helped him create unique sounds.

Early Life and Music Beginnings

Barrie Lee Hall Jr. was born in Mansfield, Louisiana. He went to Crispus Attucks middle school and Worthing High School. His high school band teacher, Sammy D. Harris, helped him and other students discover jazz music.

Barrie studied piano and trumpet at Texas Southern University. He won awards for his solo performances in big-band contests. A famous musician named Arnett Cobb discovered Barrie and introduced him to the legendary Duke Ellington. When they met, Ellington was so impressed he asked, "How come you're not playing in my band?"

Playing with Duke Ellington's Band

Barrie Hall joined the Duke Ellington Orchestra on June 8, 1973. After Duke Ellington passed away the next year, Barrie continued to play with the band. Duke's son, Mercer Ellington, took over as the band leader.

After Mercer Ellington died in 1996, Barrie Hall led the Duke Ellington Orchestra for a year. He also filled in as director when Paul Ellington couldn't perform. While playing with Mercer Ellington, Barrie received a special gift: Cootie Williams, another famous trumpet player, gave Barrie his last trumpet. Barrie became known for playing in a style similar to Cootie Williams.

Other Musical Adventures

Later in his life, Barrie Hall became the music director at Liberty Baptist Church. He had a background in gospel music, which helped him lead a big performance in 2001. This was Duke Ellington's Third Sacred Concert, where Barrie led the band with a two hundred-voice choir.

Barrie wanted more people to hear Ellington's music in churches. He even brought performances to Yugoslavia. Three thousand people watched in a cathedral, and the music was broadcast to ten thousand more outside!

In his last six years, Barrie traveled to Switzerland every April. He was a special guest soloist with a big band made up of musicians from the United States. This group included talented artists like Shelley Carrol and Randy Brecker. In his final year, he also conducted a youth orchestra, helping young musicians.

Projects for the Ellington Orchestra

Barrie Hall worked on many exciting projects for the Duke Ellington Orchestra:

• He arranged music for the Broadway musical Sophisticated Ladies.
• He arranged music for the jazz opera Queenie Pie.
• He arranged music for The Duke Ellington Special on PBS television.
• He performed a trumpet and voice duet of "Creole Love Call" with opera star Kathleen Battle.

Other Special Projects

Barrie Hall also worked on many other musical projects:

• He created arrangements for famous performers like Gregory Hines, Maurice Hines, Vivian Reed, Melba Moore, Phyllis Hyman, Judith Jamison, and Maureen McGovern.
• He was an arranger and guest soloist with the Danish Radio Orchestra.
• He was a guest soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra.
• He was the music director for the touring show of Sophisticated Ladies, starring Mary Wilson of the Supremes.
• He created orchestrations for the Seattle Symphony.

Music Barrie Hall Recorded

As the Leader

• The Duke Ellington Small Band (2006)

As a Sideman (playing with others)

With Mercer Ellington

• Continuum
• Take the Holiday Train
• Hot and Bothered
• Digital Duke
• Music Is My Mistress
• The Cotton Connection

With Duke Ellington

• Duke Ellington's Third Sacred Concert
• Only God Can Make a Tree

With Sebastian Whittaker

• Searching for the Truth
• One for Bu

With Others

• Sophisticated Ladies: The Cast Album
• The Lady, with Anita Moore
• Echoes of Harlem, with John Dankworth and the Rochester Philharmonic
• In My Solitude, with John Dankworth and Cleo Laine