Herb Hall
Encyclopedia
Herbert "Herb" Hall was an American jazz
clarinetist and alto saxophonist.
Herb was the brother of Edmond Hall
and the son of clarinetist Edward Hall. He began on banjo with the Niles Jazz Band (1923-25), then settled on reeds. In 1926 he played with Kid Augustin Victor in Baton Rouge, and moved to New Orleans the following year. He played briefly with Sidney Desvigne
, then played for many years with Don Albert
(1929-40), moving to San Antonio with him and remaining there until 1945.
After this he moved to Philadelphia, where he played with Herman Autrey
; a few years later he was in New York, working with Doc Cheatham (1955) and did a European tour with Sammy Price
(1955-56). He played often in the New York clubs of Jimmy Ryan and Eddie Condon
in the late 1950s and 1960s. In 1968-69 he toured with Wild Bill Davison
's Jazz Giants, and then a stint with an off-shoot band of The Jazz Giants, called "Buzzy's Jazz Family" which included Herman Autrey, Benny Morton, Sonny Drootin, Eddie Gibbs and leader Buzzy Drootin on drums. He did work with Don Ewell
in the 1970s. He also appeared in Bob Greene's Jelly Roll Morton
revue show that decade.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
clarinetist and alto saxophonist.
Herb was the brother of Edmond Hall
Edmond Hall
Edmond Hall was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader. His father Edward Blainey Hall and mother Caroline Duhe had eight children, Priscilla , Moretta , Viola , Robert , Edmond , Clarence , Edward and Herbert .-Early life:Born in Reserve, Louisiana, about...
and the son of clarinetist Edward Hall. He began on banjo with the Niles Jazz Band (1923-25), then settled on reeds. In 1926 he played with Kid Augustin Victor in Baton Rouge, and moved to New Orleans the following year. He played briefly with Sidney Desvigne
Sidney Desvigne
Sidney Desvigne was an American jazz trumpeter.Desvigne played in a large number of noted 1910s and 1920s-era New Orleans Jazz ensembles, including Leonard Bechet's Silver Bell Band, the Maple Leaf Orchestra, the Excelsior Brass Band, and Ed Allen's Whispering Gold Band. He and Fate Marable often...
, then played for many years with Don Albert
Don Albert
Albert Dominique, better known by his stage name Don Albert was an American jazz trumpeter and bandleader....
(1929-40), moving to San Antonio with him and remaining there until 1945.
After this he moved to Philadelphia, where he played with Herman Autrey
Herman Autrey
Herman Autrey was an American jazz trumpeter.Autrey was born into a musical family, and began on alto horn before taking up trumpet as a teenager and gigging locally in Pittsburgh and Florida. After some time in Florida he worked in Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, where he...
; a few years later he was in New York, working with Doc Cheatham (1955) and did a European tour with Sammy Price
Sammy Price
Sammy Price was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. He was born Samuel Blythe Price, in Honey Grove, Texas, United States. Price was most noteworthy for his work on Decca Records with his own band, known as the Texas Bluesicians, that included fellow musicians...
(1955-56). He played often in the New York clubs of Jimmy Ryan and Eddie Condon
Eddie Condon
Albert Edwin Condon , better known as Eddie Condon, was a jazz banjoist, guitarist, and bandleader. A leading figure in the so-called "Chicago school" of early Dixieland, he also played piano and sang on occasion....
in the late 1950s and 1960s. In 1968-69 he toured with Wild Bill Davison
Wild Bill Davison
Wild' Bill Davison was a fiery jazz cornet player who emerged in the 1920s, but did not achieve recognition until the 1940s...
's Jazz Giants, and then a stint with an off-shoot band of The Jazz Giants, called "Buzzy's Jazz Family" which included Herman Autrey, Benny Morton, Sonny Drootin, Eddie Gibbs and leader Buzzy Drootin on drums. He did work with Don Ewell
Don Ewell
Don Ewell was an American jazz stride pianist born in Baltimore, Maryland, perhaps best known for his work with several prominent New Orleans–based musicians such as Sidney Bechet, Kid Ory, George Lewis, George Brunis, Muggsy Spanier and Bunk Johnson.From 1956 to 1962, Ewell was a leading member...
in the 1970s. He also appeared in Bob Greene's Jelly Roll Morton
Jelly Roll Morton
Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe , known professionally as Jelly Roll Morton, was an American ragtime and early jazz pianist, bandleader and composer....
revue show that decade.
Discography
- Old Tyme Modern (with Claude Hopkins, Arvell Shaw and Buzzy Drootin) (Sackville RecordsSackville RecordsSackville Records is a Canadian music record label. Although the label has been used to issue material in various styles, the company particularly specializes in jazz music. Most of the company's releases have been newly recorded in Canada....
, 1969) - Title unknown (Storyville RecordsStoryville RecordsStoryville Records is a large international record label based in Copenhagen, Denmark, specializing in jazz and blues music. Besides its original material, Storyville Records has licensed and reissued many vintage jazz recordings that previously appeared on such labels as Paramount Records,...
, 1970) - Title unknown, with Louis Cottrell, Jr.Louis Cottrell, Jr.Louis Albert Cottrell, Jr. was a Louisiana Creole jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. He was the son of the influential drummer Louis Cottrell, Sr., and grandfather of New Orleans jazz drummer Louis Cottrell...
(GHB, 1980)