Les Spann

American jazz guitarist and flautist From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Leslie Spann Jr. (May 23, 1932 – January 24, 1989) was an American jazz guitarist and flautist.[1] As a sideman he recorded with Nat Adderley, Benny Bailey, Bill Coleman, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Curtis Fuller, Red Garland, Benny Goodman, Sam Jones, Abbey Lincoln, Charles Mingus, Duke Pearson, Jerome Richardson, Charlie Shavers, Sonny Stitt, Billy Taylor, Randy Weston, and Ben Webster. As a leader he recorded only once, the album Gemini in 1961.[2][1]

Born
Leslie Spann Jr.

(1932-05-23)May 23, 1932
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
DiedJanuary 24, 1989(1989-01-24) (aged 56)
New York City
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
Quick facts Born, Died ...
Les Spann
Born
Leslie Spann Jr.

(1932-05-23)May 23, 1932
Pine Bluff, Arkansas
DiedJanuary 24, 1989(1989-01-24) (aged 56)
New York City
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentsGuitar, flute
Years active1957–1967
Close

Career

Les Spann was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, United States.[1] From 1950 to 1957, he studied music at Tennessee State University.[1] At the end of that time he worked with Phineas Newborn Jr.[1] and in 1958 with Ronnell Bright. The following year, he joined a quintet in New York City led by Dizzy Gillespie, performing solos on flute and guitar and appearing on two of Gillespie's albums for Verve Records.[1] After a year with Gillespie, he went to Europe as a member of Quincy Jones's big band.[1] Two more albums followed, this time with Spann joining a sextet that included Duke Ellington, Johnny Hodges, and Harry "Sweets" Edison.[1] He recorded with Hodges again in 1967. Around 1970, he played flute in a quartet led by the guitarist Kenny Burrell.

He died in New York City in 1989.[2]

Discography

As leader

As sideman

With Nat Adderley

With Benny Bailey

With Bill Coleman

  • The Great Parisian Session (Polydor, 1960)
  • From Boogie to Funk (Brunswick, 1960)

With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

With Wild Bill Davis

With Duke Ellington

With Mercer Ellington

  • Colors In Rithym (Coral, 1959)

With Curtis Fuller

With Red Garland

With Dizzy Gillespie

With Benny Goodman

  • The King Of Swing: Best Of Yale Archives 1956-86 (Jazz Heritage Society, 2009)
  • Yale University Archives, Vol. 3: Live At The Rainbow Grill & Basin Street 1966-1967 & 1954 (Nimbus, 2010)

With Wynonie Harris

  • Women, Whiskey And Fish Tail - Recordings of 7 november, 1952 - 17 july, 1957 (Ace, 1993)

With Johnny Hodges

With Eddie "Guitar Slim" Jones

With Quincy Jones

With Sam Jones

With Abbey Lincoln

With Charles Mingus

With Phineas Newborn Jr.

With Duke Pearson

With Jerome Richardson

With Sonny Stitt

With Billy Taylor

With Ben Webster

With Randy Weston

With Kai Winding

References

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