The Chicago Jazz Orchestra, an international leader in the performance of jazz classics, will present a Tribute to Count Basie, featuring drummer Harold Jones, May 18 at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.
Conducted by CJO Artistic Director Jeff Lindberg, the 3 p.m. performance will be full of swinging Basie classics and will also feature Dan Trudell on his Hammond B-3 organ, playing charts from the libraries of Brother Jack McDuff, Jimmy Smith and Oliver Nelson.
Jones was born in Richmond, Ind., where he lived until 1958. He gives credit to his first teacher Jack Kurkowski, a vaudeville performer, for teaching him to read music before he even owned a drum. He began drumming at age 14, when he enrolled at summer music camp in his native Richmond.
In 1958, with the help of his teacher, Robert Carr, he won a scholarship to the American Conservatory of Music, Chicago, under the direction of James Dutton. During his studies he began playing night clubs, he was he drummer on Eddie Harris' "Exodus to Jazz", he first jazz LP to sell on million records.
Jones also worked with saxophonist Paul Winter when the band toured 23 Latin countries and later became part of the first jazz band to play the White House.
In 1967, he was called to New York to fill in for Count Basie's drummer - "it was supposed to be two weeks and it turned into five years." The Basie years according to him, "were the greatest of my life." With Basie, Jones performed for royalty and fans around the world. In 1972, he won the Downbeat magazine International Jazz Critics' Poll.
Harold continued to play with Basie off and on for an additional five years, but left the tour when Ella Fitzgerald invited him to be one of her musicians. He also worked with Nancy Wilson, Carmen McRae, Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis Jr.
Later he joined Sarah Vaughan and for the next 10 years toured the world. In 1990, Harold joined Natalie Cole for the Unforgettable Tour, playing to sold-out houses. And, in 2001, he was on staff for the Henry Mancini Institute at the University of California, L.A.
He has also played on Quincy Jones' new CD, Count Basie and Beyond and Robbie Williams' Swing When You're Winning. Currently, Jones leads drumming workshops at colleges and universities throughout the country and lays for corporate parties or community events with his 17-piece band, "The Bossmen."
Downbeat magazine" calls Trudell the "best organ player now working in Chicago" and New City says "Trudell is probably the hippest Hammond honcho you've ever heard of." He is also the musical director/composer and co-leader of "The B3 Bombers featuring Clyde Stubblefield.
Originally from Michigan, Trudell studied at North Texas State before moving to Boston, where he studied with Dick Johnson, Mick Brignola, Dan Braden, George Garzone, Alan Dawson and Jerry Bergonzi. He later spent time in New York City where he distinguished himself playing with Eddie Henderson, Harold Vick, The Harper Brothers, and Montego Joe.
In 1990, Dan moved to Chicago and has since worked with Jon Faddis, Randy Brecker, Eddie Daniels, Peter Erskiine, Carl Fantana, Von Freeman, Bobby Broom, Eric Alexander, Johnny Frigo, Doug Lawrence, Pat Mallinger, the Sabertooth Organ Quartet and Aretha Franklin, among others.
Dan has established a long and lasting friendship and professional partnership with saxophonist Pat Mallinger. After meeting at North Texas State, they have worked together in a variety of settings, most notably, the Sabertoooth Organ Quartet, which has had a steady Saturday night at Chicago's famed Green Mill jazz club.
Dan has appeared on two recordings with Mallinger - Babertooth, Live at the Green Mill and Monday Prayer to Tunkashila. Other recordings Dan has played on include Street Life with Doug Lawrence, Mille Allemana's The Mike Allemana Organ Trio, Jay Bandford's Seven Point Perspective and Dan's own solo release, Song of Happiness.
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