MANNY ALBAM

The son of Lithuanian immigrants, who was born in the Dominican Republic when his mother went into labour en route the United States, Albam grew up in New York City.He became interested in jazz on hearing Bix Beiderbecke and at sixteen dropped out of school to play for Dixieland trumpeter-leader Muggsy Spanier, but it was his membership in a group led by Georgie Auld that turned Albam's career around. The Auld group included saxophonist Budd Johnson, then a primary arranger for the group, and Johnson mentored Albam as an arranger. By 1950, Albam had put down his baritone sax and began to concentrate strictly on arranging, writing, and leading. Within a few years, he became known for a bebop-oriented style that emphasised taut and witty writing with a flair for distinctive shadings. (Flute-led reed sections became something of an Albam trademark.) He became known for his work for forward-looking bandleaders Charlie Barnet read more...