Red Norvo
Source: Last FM
Born Kenneth Norville on 31 March 1908 in Beardstown, Illinois, vibraphonist, Red Norvo, is said to have sold his pet pony to buy his first marimba. Heading to Chicago in 1925, Norvo began his professional career in a band called the Collegians. His first recordings in his own name were circa October of 1929, those unissued by Brunswick: 'In a Mist' and 'Song of the Bayou'. He first saw release in 1932 from a session on April 5 with Frank Trumbauer, 'Sizzling One Step Medley' bw 'Medley of Isham Jones' Dance Hits' on Columbia 18002-D.
'Sizzlin' One-Step Medley' Red Norvo w Frank Trumbauer and His Orchestra
'Dinah' / 'My Honey's Lovin' Arms' / 'Nobody's Sweetheart'
Norvo's first recording to issue
5 April 1932 in NYC Matrix 255004-1 Columbia 18002-D
Cornet: Andy Secrest Trumpet: Nat Natoli / Harry "Goldie" Goldfield
Trombone: Hal Matthews / Jack Fulton / Bill Rank
Reeds: Trumbauer / Charles Strickfaden / Chester Hazlett / John Cordaro
Violin: Kurt Dieterle / John Bowman / Mischa Russell / Matty Malneck
Piano: Roy Bargy
Guitar: Carl Kress Xylophone: NorvoBass: Pierre Olker Drums: Herb Quigley
Vocals: Johnny Mercer / The Nitecaps
'Isham Jones Medley' Red Norvo w Frank Trumbauer and His Orchestra
'On the Alamo' / 'Swingin' Down the Lane' / 'I'll See You in My Dreams'
Norvo's second recording to issue
5 April 1932 in NYC Matrix 255005-1 Columbia 18002-D
Cornet: Andy Secrest Trumpet: Nat Natoli / Harry "Goldie" Goldfield
Trombone: Hal Matthews / Jack Fulton / Bill Rank
Reeds: Trumbauer / Charles Strickfaden / Chester Hazlett / John Cordaro
Violin: Kurt Dieterle / John Bowman / Mischa Russell / Matty Malneck
Piano: Roy Bargy
Guitar: Carl Kress Xylophone: NorvoBass: Pierre Olker Drums: Herb Quigley
Vocals: Helen Rowland / Johnny Blake
March of 1933 found Norvo recording with Victor Young. The next month he laid his first issued name titles for the Brunswick label: 'Knockin' on Wood' and 'Hole In the Wall'. Jimmy Dorsey played clarinet on those.
'Knockin' on Wood' Red Norvo (xylophone / marimba)
Norvo's first name recording to issue
8 April 1933 in NYC Matrix B13205-A Brunswick 6562
Clarinet: Jimmy Dorsey
Piano: Fulton McGrath
Guitar: Dick McDonough Bass: Artie BernsteinComposition: Norvo
'Hole in the Wall' Red Norvo (xylophone / marimba)
Norvo's second name recording to issue
8 April 1933 in NYC Matrix B13206-A Brunswick 6562
Clarinet: Jimmy Dorsey
Piano: Fulton McGrath
Guitar: Dick McDonough Bass: Artie BernsteinComposition: Norvo
The major bandleader with whom Norvo is most associated is Benny Goodman, first on 21 November 1933 with Dick McDonough at guitar and Artie Bernstein on drums. Norvo first recorded with Goodman as a leader on 10 February 1941 in the latter's Septet toward 'Wholly Cats' and 'Flying Home'. With the exception of a brief period with Woody Herman in 1945 and 1946, Norvo remained with Goodman steadily to as late as the latter's Septet on 30 December 1947 yielding 'The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise' and 'The Record Ban Blues'. Norvo worked with various others for another decade until reuniting with Goodman in latter 1958, remaing to as late as 3 April 1961 when they put away another version of 'The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise' at Carnegie Hall. Nigh a quarter century later Norvo's last recordings arrived on 7 October 1985 in Goodman's orchestra toward such as 'Let's Dance' and 'Stealin' Apples'.
'In a Mist' Red Norvo (xylophone / marimba)
21 Nov 1933 in NYC Matrix B14361-A Brunswick 6906
Clarinet: Benny Goodman
Guitar: Dick McDonough Bass: Artie Bernstein
Composition: Bix Beiderbecke
'Blues in E Flat' Red Norvo (xylophone) and His Swing Octet
25 Jan 1935 in NYC Matrix 16711-1
Brunswick 8208 / Columba 3079-D / Sony SOLP187 (Japan)
Trumpet: Bunny Berigan Trombone: Jack Jenney Clarinet: Johnny Mince
Sax: Chu Berry Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: George Van Eps
Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Gene Krupa
Composition:
Irving Mills / Red Norvo
Another major name with whom Norvo is associated is Mildred Bailey whom he had married on an unknown date in latter 1933, they to divorce nine years later in 1942. Norvo first backed Bailey and Her Swing Band on 20 September 1935 toward such as 'I'd Love to Take Orders from You' and 'When Day Is Done'. They recorded together numerously until as late as 8 February 1946 with Woody Herman, 'Sergeant on a Furlough' their last known track together. Nigh twenty years later in 1964 Norvo would back Mavis Rivers in Las Vegas on the album 'We Remember Mildred Bailey' (below).
'I'd Rather Listen to Your Eyes'
Red Norvo (xylophone) w Mildred Bailey and Her Swing Band
20 Sep 1935 1935 in NYC Matrix 18091-1 Vocalion 3056
Trumpet: Chris Griffin
Sax: Chu Berry Piano: Teddy Wilson Guitar: Dick McDonough
Bass: Artie Bernstein Drums: Eddie Dougherty
Composition: Al Dubin / Harry Warren
'Remember' Red Norvo (xylophone) and His Orchestra
22 March 1937 in NYC Matrix C-1853-1 Brunswick 7896
Trumpet: Stewart Pletcher / Bill Hyland / Eddie Sauter (arrangement)
Trombone: Al Mastren Clarinet: Hank d'Amico
Alto Sax: Frank Simeone / Charles Lamphere Tenor sax: Herbie Haymer
Piano: Joe Liss Guitar: Dave Barbour Bass: Pete Peterson Drums: Maurice Purtill
Composition: Irving Berlin
In 1938 Norvo and His Orchestra scored two No. 1 positions on the record charts with 'Please Be Kind' and 'Says My Heart'. Norvo had begun to reach the higher tiers of the popularly charts in 1935, placing numerous titles in the top ten alone:
Honeysuckle Rose #9
1935 composed by Fats Waller / Andy Razaf
Slummin' on Park Avenue #8 1937 composed by
Irving Berlin
Worried Over You #10
1937 composed by Ed Nelson / Steve Nelson / Fred Rose
Garden of the Moon #6 1938 composed by
Harry Warren / Al Dubin / Johnny Mercer
Says My Heart #1 1938 composed by Frank
Loesser / Burton Lane
Have You Forgotten So Soon?
#5 1938 composed by Sam Coslow / Edward Heyman /
Abner Silver
Please Be Kind #1 1938
composed by Frank Loesser / Burton Lane
Weekend of a Private Secretary #10 1938
composed by Bernie Hanighen / Johnny Mercer
I Get Along
Without You Very Well #3 1939 composed
by Hoagy Carmichael / Jane Brown Thompson
'Please Be Kind' Red Norvo and His Orchestra backing Mildred Bailey
10 Feb 1938 in NYC Matrix 22408-1 Brunswick 8088 Charts: #1
Music: Saul Chaplin Lyrics: Sammy Cahn
'Says My Heart' Red Norvo and His Orchestra backing Mildred Bailey
19 April 1938 in NYC Matrix 22754-1 Brunswick 8135 Charts: #1
Composition: Burton Lane / Frank Loesser
'Three Little Fishies' Red Norvo and His Orchestra backing Mildred Bailey
19 April 1938 in NYC Matrix 24345-C Vocalion 4785 Charts: #1
Composition: Saxie Dowell
'Downhearted Blues' Red Norvo (vibraphone) Quintet backing Mildred Bailey
17 May 1944 in NYC Matrix VP1441 V-Disc 524-A
Clarinet: Aaron Sachs Piano: Danny Negri Guitar:
Remo Palmieri
Bass: Clyde Lombardi Drums: Eddie Dell
Composition: Alberta Hunter / Lovie Austin
Another major name with whom Norvo is
associated is, per above, Woody Herman, first performing in the latter's
orchestra on 5 September 1945. Herman employed Norvo to as late as 12
October 1946 to put away 'Someday Sweetheart' and 'I Surrender Dear'.
'Fan It' Red Norvo (vibes) w Woody Herman & His Woodchoppers
16 May 1946 in Chicago CCO 4544-1
Trumpet: Sonny Berman / Shorty Rogers Trombone: Bill Harris
Clarinet / vocal: Herman Tenor sax: Flip Phillips
Piano: Jimmy Rowles Guitar: Billy Bauer
Bass: Chubby Jackson Drums: Don Lamond
Composition: Frankie Jaxon
Norvo formed a trio in 1949 of vibraphone, bass and guitar, which through the years would employ such as Red Kelly, Mundell Lowe, Tal Farlow, Jimmy Raney, Charles Mingus and Red Mitchell. In 1959 he toured Australia with Frank Sinatra.
'Tea For Two' Red Norvo (vibes) Trio
late 1950/early 1951 Queen Q061 (Italy)
Guitar: Tal Farlow Bass: Charles Mingus
Music: Vincent Youmans Lyrics: Irving Caesar 1924
'Poeme' Red Norvo (vibes)
26 Jan 1957 From the album 'Music To Listen To Red Norvo By'
Flute: Buddy Collette Clarinet: Bill Smith
Guitar: Barney Kessel Bass: Red Mitchell Drums: Shelly Manne
Composition: Jack Montrose
'Too Marvelous For Words' Red Norvo (vibes) backing Frank Sinatra
Possibly 'The Frank Sinatra Timex Show: An Afternoon With Frank Sinatra'
California Airing 13 Dec 1959 on ABC
Music: Richard A. Whiting Lyrics: Johnny Mercer
'We Remember Mildred Bailey' Red Norvo (vibes) backing Mavis Rivers
Album recorded 8/9 Dec 1964 in Las Vegas Vee Jay LP1132
Trumpet: Harry Sweets Edison Trombone: Bill Harris
Tenor sax: Eric Dixon / Sam Donahue
Piano: Don Abney Bass: Wyatt Ruther / Carson Smith Drums: J.C. Heard
'Girl from Ipanema' Red Norvo (vibes) Television
Copenhagen 1974
Guitar: Barney Kessel Bass: Larry Ridley Drums: Don Lamond
Music: Antônio Carlos Jobim 1962
'Here’s That Rainy Day' Red Norvo (vibes)
9 or 10 July 1985 in Stockholm, Sweden
See the album 'Benny Carter All-Stars' of 1985 on Sonet SNTF947 / SNTCD947
Album personnel:
Cornet: Nat Adderly Alto sax: Benny Carter Piano: Horace Parlan
Bass: Red Mitchell Drums: Ronnie Gardiner
Music: Jimmy Van Heusen 1953
Norvo continued performing and touring until a stroke retired him in the eighties. Tom Lord traces him to as late as 7 October 1985 performing 'There Will Never Be Another You' on the 'Benny Goodman : Let's Dance, A Musical Tribute' PBS television special.
'There Will Never Be Another You' Red Norvo Quartet
Norvo's last-known recording at 1:01:04
'Benny Goodman: Let's Dance, A Musical Tribute' television special by PBS
7 Oct 1985 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in NYC
Music: Harry Warren 1942
Red passed away on 6 April 1999 in a nursing home in Santa Monica, California [obit].
Sources & References for Red Norvo:
Robert Dupuis (Musician Guide)
VF History (notes)
Scott Yanow (All Music)
Audio: Internet Archive
Popularity Charts: Music VF
Collections: Smithsonian
Norvo in Film / Television: IMDb
Interviews:
1968-82 (w Les Tomkins / text)
28 Jan 1993 (PBS American Masters / television)
1994 (w Dan Del Fiorentino / radio)
Recordings: Catalogs:
45 Worlds Discogs RYM SHS WikipediaRecordings: Compilations:
Chronological Classics (9 volumes: #1085 1933-36 / #1123 1936-37 / #1157 1937-38 / #1192 1938-39 / #1232 1939-43 / #1306 1943-44 / #1356 1944-45 / #1386 1945-47 / #1422 1950-51)
Four Classic Albums (Avid / 2014): Discogs David Rickert (review)
Red Norvo Featuring Mildred Bailey (Portrait Masters 465466 2 / 1989)
Recordings: Sessions:
DAHR (1936-55) Tom Lord (leading 106 of 350 sessions 1929-85)
Further Reading: Solon
Other Profiles:
Donald Clarke (Music Box)
NPR (National Public Radio)
Classical Main Menu Modern Recording