Bud Shank facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bud Shank
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Bud Shank in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Clifford Everett Shank Jr. |
| Born | May 27, 1926 Dayton, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | April 2, 2009 (aged 82) Tucson, Arizona, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Alto saxophone, flute, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone |
| Years active | 1946–2009 |
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Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank Jr. (born May 27, 1926 – died April 2, 2009) was an amazing American musician. He was famous for playing the alto saxophone and the flute. Bud became well-known in the early 1950s. He played with Stan Kenton's big band, the Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra.
Throughout the 1950s, he worked in many small jazz groups. In the 1960s, he became a top studio musician in Hollywood. This meant he played on many recordings for movies and TV shows. From the 1970s to the 1980s, he often performed with a group called the L.A. Four. Later in his career, Bud decided to focus mainly on playing jazz on the alto saxophone. He also played the tenor and baritone saxophones.
One of his most famous recordings is the song "Harlem Nocturne". It was used as the theme song for the TV show Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer. You might also know his alto flute solo on "California Dreamin'" by The Mamas & the Papas, recorded in 1965.
Contents
Bud Shank's Early Life and Music Journey
Bud Shank was born in Dayton, Ohio. He started playing the clarinet when he was young in Vandalia, Ohio. But soon, he switched to the saxophone. He continued playing music while attending the University of North Carolina.
Starting His Professional Career
In 1946, Bud began working with bandleader Charlie Barnet. After that, he joined Stan Kenton's orchestra. He then became a big part of the West coast jazz music scene.
Exploring World Music
Bud was very interested in music from different cultures. In 1953–1954, he played Brazilian-style jazz with Laurindo Almeida. In 1958, he became the first American jazz musician to record in Italy. He worked with an Italian jazz orchestra led by Ezio Leoni. This helped other American jazz musicians like Chet Baker to record there too.
His love for world music continued. In 1962, he blended jazz with Indian music traditions. He worked with the famous Indian composer and sitar player Ravi Shankar.
Later Career and Collaborations
In 1974, Bud Shank helped form a group called the L.A. Four. He played with Ray Brown, Shelly Manne (later Jeff Hamilton), and Laurindo Almeida. This group recorded many albums and toured a lot until 1982.
Making Jazz Popular
Bud helped make both Latin-flavored jazz and chamber jazz popular. He was a musician admired by other musicians. He performed with many different orchestras. These included the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the New American Orchestra, and the Gerald Wilson Big Band. He also played with Stan Kenton's Neophonic Orchestra and even with Duke Ellington.
Forming a Big Band
In 2005, Bud created the Bud Shank Big Band in Los Angeles. This was to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Stan Kenton's Neophonic Orchestra.
A Film About Bud Shank
A documentary film was made about Bud Shank. It was called Bud Shank "Against the Tide" Portrait of a Jazz Legend. Graham Carter directed it, and it came out in 2008. The film won four awards.
Bud Shank passed away on April 2, 2009. He died at his home in Tucson, Arizona. This was just one day after he finished recording a new album in San Diego, California.
Discography
See also
In Spanish: Bud Shank para niños
