Benny Waters

Benjamin Waters (January 23, 1902, Brighton, Baltimore, Maryland – August 11, 1998, Columbia, Maryland) was a jazz saxophonist and clarinetist known in part for the longevity of his career. 

He began on organ, then switched to clarinet and later added saxophone.  The first band he joined in 1918 was Charly Miller's band.  In 1922 he attended the New England Conservatory of Music where he gave lessons to Harry Carney. 

From 1926 till 1931 he was a member of Charlie Johnson's band.  Later he worked with King Oliver, Fletcher Henderson, Claude Hopkins, and others.  During these years he made several recordings with King Oliver and Clarence Williams.  During 1941–1942 he played with the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra.  After that he started his own band and played at the Red Mill in New York.  After New York he lived for four years in California. 

From 1952 to 1992 he lived in Paris.  In 1996 he received the Legion of Honour by the French Ministry of Culture.  He continued to perform regularly up to his 95th birthday.  Waters became blind in 1992 due to cataract. 

Discography

As leader
 Blue Waters (Supraphon, 1976)
 Benny Waters & the Traditional Jazz Studio (I Giganti Del Jazz, 1976)
 When You're Smiling (Hep, 1980)
 On the Sunny Side of the Street (JSP, 1981)
 Hurry on Down (Storyville, 1981)
 Mature Black Beauty (w/Christiania Jazzband) (Hot Club/Jon Larsen, 1983)
 From Paradise (Small's) to Shangri La (Muse, 1987) also released as Hearing is Convincing
 Memories of the Twenties (Stomp Off, 1988)
 Benny Waters Freddy Randall Jazz Band (Jazzology, 1989)
 Swinging Again (Jazz Point, 1993)
 Plays Songs of Love (Jazz Point, 1993)
 Jazz Live (Laserlight, 1997)
 Birdland Birthday Live at 95 (Enja, 1997)
 Great Traditionalists and Quartier Latin Jazz Band (Jazz Point, 1998)
 Live at the Pawnshop (Opus 3, 1999)

As sideman
 1978 Roy Milton & His Solid Senders, Roy Milton
 1980 Harlem Shout, Jimmie Lunceford
 1991 1926–1928, King Oliver
 1991 1928–1930, King Oliver
 1991 1938–1940, Hot Lips Page
 1992 Groovy Blues, Vol.  2, Roy Milton
 1993 1937–1940, Claude Hopkins
 1993 The Collection, Vol.  1: 1927–1928, Clarence Williams
 1994 Blowin' with Roy, Roy Milton
 1995 Live at the Riverside, Adelaide Hall
 1996 Story 1928–1944, Sidney De Paris
 1996 The Complete Sessions, Charlie Johnson

References

External links

NPR Profile

Category:Swing saxophonists
Category:Swing clarinetists
Category:American jazz saxophonists
Category:American male saxophonists
Category:American jazz clarinetists
Category:1902 births
Category:1998 deaths
Category:Muse Records artists
Category:Enja Records artists
Category:Blind musicians
Category:20th-century American musicians
Category:20th-century saxophonists
Category:20th-century American male musicians
Category:Male jazz musicians
Category:Commandeurs of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
Category:Statesmen of Jazz members