Herbert Hardesty

Herbert Hardesty (born March 3, 1925, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States)[1] is an American musician who plays tenor saxophone and trumpet. He is best known for his association with New Orleans pianist Fats Domino and producer Dave Bartholomew beginning in 1948. He released six 45rpm records as Herb Hardesty between 1959 and 1962. His first CD of these recordings, and others made but never issued in 1958, were released worldwide in July 2012 by Ace Records (United Kingdom), entitled The Domino Effect.

Early life

Hardesty began trumpet lessons in school at the age of six and used a trumpet that Louis Armstrong gave to his stepfather.[2] He also took lessons from Professor Valmore Victor and began playing in a local Works Progress Administration big band. By 1939, he was getting paid to play with bands led by Papa Celestin, Sidney Desvigne, and others. Chick Webb also asked him to perform with his Orchestra.[2]

Hardesty enlisted in the military in 1941 even though he was two years below the minimum draft age. At the United States Army Air Corps base in Jackson, Mississippi, he volunteered to play saxophone in the band and his commanding officer purchased an alto saxophone, which Hardesty learned how to play in two days.[3] His Army training continued at Tuskegee, Alabama, and he was a radio technician in 99th Flying Training Squadron in locations including Morocco, Italy, and Germany, making him part of what is now known as the Tuskeegee Airmen. When time permitted he played trumpet and alto saxophone with local European musicians.[4] After the war ended, Hardesty returned to New Orleans, Louisiana, and attended Dillard University.

Early career

His first trio performed at The Hurricane Bar (3726 S. Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana, a few blocks from where he was living) with Hardesty playing double bass accompanied by a guitarist and pianist, similar to Nat King Cole's group.[1] Shortly after this Hardesty purchased a tenor saxophone and began taking lessons, and by 1948 formed a group called The Four Dukes, which performed at Club Desire in New Orleans; Hardesty played both trumpet and tenor sax.[5]

Hardesty met Dave Bartholomew in 1946, and by January 1949 Bartholomew asked Hardesty to go into the studio to record with Chubby Newsome for De Luxe Records, an album named New Orleans Lover Man.[1] Other musicians on this session included drummer Earl Palmer, bassist Frank Fields, guitarist Ernest McLean, and together with Bartholomew and Hardesty (who by this time was primarily playing tenor sax) were the core of the studio band which during the 1950s recorded many hit records at Cosimo Matassa's J&M Recording Studio. Later in 1949, Hardesty toured for about six months with vocalist Roy Brown.[1]

Upon returning to New Orleans, Hardesty again recorded with Bartholomew, including the November 29, 1949, sessions for Jewel King 3 x 7 = 21 and Tommy Ridgley Shrewsbury Blues.[1] On December 10, 1949, he recorded on The Fat Man with Fats Domino, the first release for the future Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member. During the first half of the 1950s, Hardesty continued to do studio work with Domino and other artists including Lloyd Price, contributing the saxophone solo on "Lawdy Miss Clawdy";[1] Shirley & Lee; Smiley Lewis; T-Bone Walker; Big Joe Turner, Little Richard, and others, while occasionally performing in local clubs. In 1953, Hardesty helped Ray Charles organize and rehearse a band for a tour.[1]

Touring with Fats Domino

In 1955, Bartholomew asked Hardesty to begin touring with Fats Domino. When the band played at the 5-4 Ballroom in Los Angeles, California, in March, 1955, a photographer took a picture of Hardesty playing tenor sax on his back, and it appeared in the April 18, 1955, issue of Life, the first time that Fats Domino was mentioned in Life, although he was not seen in the photograph.[6] This same trip to Los Angeles also included recording sessions that resulted in hits for Fats Domino including "Blue Monday" on which Hardesty played the baritone saxophone solo because the other musician was unable to get the right sound; it was the first and only time that Hardesty played baritone sax. One music writer said this solo "is as close to perfection as one can imagine. The eight-bar sax break is a gem of almost frightening economy. It is one of the most memorable, bluesy, and yet simple runs in all of r&b."[7] Other well-known tenor saxophone solos by Hardesty with Fats Domino were on "I'm Walkin'", "Ain't That a Shame", and "Let The Four Winds Blow".

Hardesty's solo recordings began in 1957; the first two, organized by guitarist Mickey Baker, were never released are not known to exist.[1] Twelve songs were recorded on January 15, 1958, at Cosimo Matassa's studio in New Orleans for the Wing Records subsidiary of Mercury Records but were never released until the 2012 CD The Domino Effect was issued worldwide by Ace Records (United Kingdom). The first time that Hardesty's name appeared on a single was with the Canadian vocal quartet The Diamonds, "Don't Let Me Down" also known as "Chick-Lets", which was recorded on March 4, 1958, and released the following month on Mercury 71291.[1] In 1959, Hardesty recorded four tracks in New York City with Hank Jones. Two were released as a single on Paoli,[8] the only release on this label, and then released shortly after on Mutual,[9] both labels with connections to Philadelphia. The Mutual release was listed on Philadelphia radio station WIBG's Future Forty chart for November 2, 1959, but did not chart elsewhere.[1] The four tracks were purchased by King Records in 1961[10] and were re-released as two 45s on Federal Records beginning in April and June 1961. Hardesty recorded four more songs in October 1961, which were also released in 1962 by Federal Records; two are not instrumentals and had vocals by New Orleans guitarist Walter "Papoose" Nelson. Hardesty co-wrote the title track of Fats Domino's 1964 album, Fats On Fire.[1]

Association with other musicians

Hardesty continued to tour with Fats Domino until 1971 and moved to Las Vegas at that time. In 1973, Hardesty played trumpet with the Duke Ellington Orchestra at The Hilton Hotel in Las Vegas, and was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra for six months, playing tenor saxophone. He became a member of the house band at the Hilton Hotel and backed vocalists including Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.[11]

In 1978, drummer Earl Palmer invited Hardesty to record with Tom Waits on Blue Valentine. He was a member of Waits' quartet in 1978-79 touring in the US, Europe and Australia. He played more trumpet than tenor sax and CDs and DVDs can be found of the Waits shows in Austin, Texas.

Hardesty rejoined Domino from about 1980 until 2005 and can be heard on numerous live recordings released during these years. He played tenor sax on Dr. John's 1992 album Goin' Back to New Orleans. Over the years he has performed in Europe and privately issued a CD recorded in Germany with the Olaf Polziehn Trio. He also appeared at the Ascona Jazz Festival with tenor saxophonist Plas Johnson. He recorded with pianist Mitch Woods, Big Easy Boogie, which was released in 2006 (including a 2008 European tour) and Gumbo Blues released in 2010. Hardesty continues to perform with Dr. John at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Reviewing his solos at the 2012 JazzFest, Gambit Weekly wrote: "All hail Herb Hardesty, one of the few remaining alums of the J&M Studio Band whose talents helped create so many hits and classic songs for Fats Domino, Little Richard, Shirley and Lee, and so many others. His presence and fine soloing in Dr. John's sets this Jazz Fest added to the New Orleans feel in Dr. John's new songs."[12] Hardesty continues to perform in Las Vegas.

Instruments played

For most of his career, Hardesty played a gold-plated Selmer Mark VI tenor saxophone with an Otto Link mouthpiece. His trumpet is custom-made by Henri Selmer Paris, one of two made in France by a master craftsman; the other was owned by Louis Armstrong.[6]

Discography

Herb Hardesty

Singles

Compilation album

The Diamonds with Herb Hardesty and His Orchestra

Singles

Compilation album

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 The Domino Effect, Ace Records CDTOP 1333.
  2. 1 2 Wavelength, June 1988, p. 24.
  3. ↑ Mark Thompson (June 28, 2007). "An Interview with a Living Legend". Crossroads Blues Society News. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  4. ↑ Melody Maker, May 19, 1979, p. 49.
  5. ↑ The Louisiana Weekly, August 14, 1948, p. 5.
  6. 1 2 The Domino Effect, Ace Records CDTOP, 1333.
  7. ↑ Hank Davis, Fats Domino - Out Of New Orleans, Bear Family Records (1993), p. 42.
  8. ↑ Bob McGrath, The R&B Indies, 2nd edition (2006), Vol. 3, p. 345.
  9. ↑ McGrath, The R&B Indies (2006), Vol. 3, p. 235.
  10. ↑ Goldmine, June 1980.
  11. ↑ Melody Maker, May 19, 1979, p. 49.
  12. ↑ Woodward, Alex. "Highlights of Jazz Fest | Events Feature | Gambit - New Orleans News and Entertainment". Bestofneworleans.com. Retrieved 2014-05-22.

External links

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