Roswell Rudd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roswell Rudd
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Rudd in 2006
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roswell Hopkins Rudd Jr. |
| Born | 17 November 1935 Sharon, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Died | 21 December 2017 (aged 82) Kerhonkson, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Avant-garde jazz, free jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer, educator |
| Instruments | Trombone |
| Years active | 1957–2017 |
| Labels | Columbia, Sunnyside, Universal, DIW, Verve |
| Associated acts | Eli's Chosen Six, New York Art Quartet, Archie Shepp, Thelonious Monk |
Roswell Hopkins Rudd Jr. (born November 17, 1935 – died December 21, 2017) was an American jazz musician. He was famous for playing the Trombone and writing music.
Even though he was good at many types of jazz, like Dixieland (which he played in college), he was best known for his work in free jazz and avant-garde jazz. These are styles of jazz that are more experimental and less structured. Starting in 1962, Rudd worked a lot with another great musician, saxophonist Archie Shepp.
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Roswell Rudd's Early Life and Music Journey
Roswell Rudd was born in Sharon, Connecticut, United States. He went to the Hotchkiss School and later graduated from Yale University. While at Yale, he played in a dixieland band called Eli's Chosen Six. This band played a lively style of traditional jazz. They even recorded two albums, including one for Columbia Records.
Rudd learned a lot from playing these early jazz styles. These lessons helped him when he later worked with other famous jazz artists like Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, John Tchicai, and Steve Lacy.
Teaching and World Music Projects
Later in his life, Rudd also taught about music from different cultures, a subject called ethnomusicology. He taught at Bard College and the University of Maine.
For about 30 years, he helped a famous music researcher named Alan Lomax. They worked on projects that studied music styles from all over the world. One of these was called the Global Jukebox.
Exploring New Sounds in Jazz
In the 1960s, Rudd was part of many important free jazz recordings. He played with the New York Art Quartet and on the soundtrack for the 1964 movie New York Eye and Ear Control. He also played on the album Communications with the Jazz Composer's Orchestra.
Rudd also worked with other well-known jazz musicians like Don Cherry, Larry Coryell, Pharoah Sanders, and Gato Barbieri. He had long-lasting friendships with saxophonists Archie Shepp and Steve Lacy. With Lacy, he performed and recorded the music of the legendary jazz pianist Thelonious Monk.
Music Around the World
Roswell Rudd loved to explore music from different cultures. In 2000 and 2001, he traveled to Mali with his producer and partner, Verna Gillis. His album MALIcool (released in 2001) was a special project. It mixed his jazz trombone with the sounds of the kora, a West African string instrument, played by Toumani Diabaté, and other Malian musicians.
In 2004, Rudd took his Trombone Shout Band to play at the Festival au Désert in Essakane, Mali. He continued his global musical journey in 2005. He recorded an album called Blue Mongol with the Mongolian Buryat Band. This group played traditional music from Mongolia and Buryatia. Besides performing, Rudd also taught music classes and workshops in the United States and other countries.
Later Years and Legacy
Roswell Rudd passed away from prostate cancer on December 21, 2017, at his home in Kerhonkson, New York. His important collection of musical works and papers were given to the Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Roswell Rudd received many awards for his amazing musical talent:
- Nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Vocal Performance Male and Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Monk's Dream (1999).
- Named Trombonist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association several times (2003–05, 2009–10).
- Voted Best Trombonist in the Down Beat Critics' Poll (2010).
Roswell Rudd's Albums
Roswell Rudd recorded many albums throughout his career, both as a band leader and playing with other musicians. Here are some of his notable works:
Albums as a Leader or Co-Leader
- Roswell Rudd (1971)
- Everywhere (1967)
- Numatik Swing Band (1973)
- Flexible Flyer (1975)
- MALIcool (2002) – a special collaboration with Toumani Diabaté
- Blue Mongol (2005) – featuring the Mongolian Buryat Band
- Trombone Tribe (2009)
- Trombone for Lovers (2013)
With the New York Art Quartet
- New York Art Quartet (1965)
- Mohawk (1965)
Playing with Other Artists
Roswell Rudd also played on many albums as a sideman, supporting other great musicians. Some of these include:
- Four for Trane with Archie Shepp (1964)
- The Jazz Composer's Orchestra with Michael Mantler (1968)
- Escalator over the Hill with Carla Bley (1971)
- Liberation Music Orchestra with Charlie Haden (1971)
- Monk's Dream with Steve Lacy (2000)
