Bob Belden
Encyclopedia
James Robert Belden is an American saxophonist, arranger, composer, bandleader and producer. He is noted for his Grammy Award winning jazz orchestral recording titled The Black Dahlia. He is also a past head of A & R for Blue Note Records
.
Belden was born in Evanston, Illinois
, and raised in South Carolina
. In his formative years, Belden studied saxophone with Lou Marini Sr., father of famed jazz saxophonist, Lou Marini
(Buddy Rich
Big Band, Blood, Sweat and Tears, best known as "Blue Lou" of the Blues Brothers Band). Belden attended the University of North Texas
and was a member of the famed One O'Clock Lab Band
. While at UNT Belden amassed a huge record collection which included every Blue Note album in existence. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of both the musical and the historical aspects of jazz, in addition to other forms of music such as opera, and contemporary classical music. This has been evident in his work reissuing the music of Miles Davis on Columbia, for which he received Grammy awards. A familiarity with details of recording dates, personnel, and specific takes have proven invaluable in preserving and documenting that period of jazz.
Belden's works as arranger and composer show an extremely wide ranging versatility, often being compared to the works of Gil Evans
and Maria Schneider
. In 2008 he arranged and produced Miles from India
, a world fusion music record, based on the compositions of Miles Davis
. In the record he assembled alumni of Davis and musicians of India.
In addition to his work as arranger, composer, conductor and A & R director, Belden has contributed numerous liner notes for noted recordings, such as "Lou's Blues
" by Lou Marini
and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra
.
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
.
Belden was born in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
, and raised in South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
. In his formative years, Belden studied saxophone with Lou Marini Sr., father of famed jazz saxophonist, Lou Marini
Lou Marini
Lou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
(Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
Big Band, Blood, Sweat and Tears, best known as "Blue Lou" of the Blues Brothers Band). Belden attended the University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
and was a member of the famed One O'Clock Lab Band
One O'Clock Lab Band
The One O’Clock Lab Band for years has been the premier ensemble of the Jazz Studies Division at the University of North Texas College of Music in Denton. The band has performed and toured abroad in Australia, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Norway,...
. While at UNT Belden amassed a huge record collection which included every Blue Note album in existence. He has an encyclopedic knowledge of both the musical and the historical aspects of jazz, in addition to other forms of music such as opera, and contemporary classical music. This has been evident in his work reissuing the music of Miles Davis on Columbia, for which he received Grammy awards. A familiarity with details of recording dates, personnel, and specific takes have proven invaluable in preserving and documenting that period of jazz.
Belden's works as arranger and composer show an extremely wide ranging versatility, often being compared to the works of Gil Evans
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
and Maria Schneider
Maria Schneider (musician)
Maria Schneider is an American arranger, composer, and big-band leader who has won multiple awards. In 2005, her album Concert in the Garden won a Grammy for "Best Large Ensemble Album"...
. In 2008 he arranged and produced Miles from India
Miles from India
Miles from India: A Celebration of the Music of Miles Davis is a compilation album by various artists released in April 2008 through Times Square Records. The album reached a peak position of number six on Billboard Top Jazz Albums chart....
, a world fusion music record, based on the compositions of Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
. In the record he assembled alumni of Davis and musicians of India.
In addition to his work as arranger, composer, conductor and A & R director, Belden has contributed numerous liner notes for noted recordings, such as "Lou's Blues
Lou's Blues
Lou's Blues is an album by saxophonist Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra recorded at Bates Brothers Recording in Hueytown, Alabama . This CD was the first recording as a leader by Marini...
" by Lou Marini
Lou Marini
Lou Marini, Jr. is an American saxophonist, arranger and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions.-Early life and range of musical experience:...
and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra
Magic City Jazz Orchestra
The Magic City Jazz Orchestra is an American jazz ensemble which was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the SuperJazz Big Band by Birmingham, Alabama jazz pianist and vocalist Ray Reach...
.
External links
- Bob Belden at AllAboutJazz.com
- Mix Magazine interview with Bob Belden
- Bob Belden bio at VH1.com
- Bob Belden bio at AOL Music
- Bob Belden interview at Columbiarecords.com
- Bob Belden news
- Review of the Black Dahlia recording at AllAboutJazz.com
- Video: Black Dahlia recording session video at YouTube.com
- Video: Bob Belden Big Band at Birdland - "Milestones" (Miles Davis) - arranged by Bob Belden. Soloists: Jeremy Pelt and Joe LovanoJoe LovanoJoseph Salvatore "Joe" Lovano is a post bop jazz saxophonist, alto clarinetist, flautist, and drummer. Since the late 1980s, Lovano has been one of the world's premiere tenor saxophone players, earning a Grammy award and several nods on Down Beat magazine's critics' and readers' polls...
- Video: "In Questa Reggia" (Puccini) - Gil Evans-esque arrangement of operatic aria by Puccini
- "Lou's Blues" by Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz OrchestraMagic City Jazz OrchestraThe Magic City Jazz Orchestra is an American jazz ensemble which was founded in 1999 as a spin-off of the SuperJazz Big Band by Birmingham, Alabama jazz pianist and vocalist Ray Reach...
- Liner notes by Bob Belden