John Adriano Acea
Encyclopedia
John Adriano Acea was an American jazz pianist. Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
to Adriano Acea of Cuba and Leona Acea of Virginia. One of six children, Johnny and was expected to die during his first decade of life from Rheumatic fever
, as did his youngest sister, Anna. In addition to beating the odds, he would end up with a rather impressive résumé backing several notable artists.
. He would later become a sought-after session musician
with jazz
veterans, including (but not limited to):
on "Nice 'N' Greasy" – the closing track to Lou Donaldson
's 1962 effort, The Natural Soul
. He is also credited as a composer on recordings by Gillespie, Jacquet and Moody.
With Don Wilkerson
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
to Adriano Acea of Cuba and Leona Acea of Virginia. One of six children, Johnny and was expected to die during his first decade of life from Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
, as did his youngest sister, Anna. In addition to beating the odds, he would end up with a rather impressive résumé backing several notable artists.
Session musician collaborations
During the 1930s, Acea started out as a trumpeter and saxophonist. Upon conclusion of military service (US Army) in 1946, he switched to playing the pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. He would later become a sought-after session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
with jazz
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...
veterans, including (but not limited to):
- Eddie Lockjaw Davis
- Cootie WilliamsCootie WilliamsCharles Melvin "Cootie" Williams was an American jazz, jump blues, and rhythm and blues trumpeter.-Biography:...
- Dizzy GillespieDizzy GillespieJohn Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie was an American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise".Together with Charlie Parker, he was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz...
- Illinois JacquetIllinois JacquetJean-Baptiste Illinois Jacquet was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, best remembered for his solo on "Flying Home", critically recognized as the first R&B saxophone solo....
- Dinah WashingtonDinah WashingtonDinah Washington, born Ruth Lee Jones , was an American blues, R&B and jazz singer. She has been cited as "the most popular black female recording artist of the '50s", and called "The Queen of the Blues"...
- Grant GreenGrant GreenGrant Green was a jazz guitarist and composer....
- James MoodyJames Moody (saxophonist)James Moody was an American jazz saxophone and flute player. He was best known for his hit "Moody's Mood for Love," an improvisation based on "I'm in the Mood for Love"; in performance, he often improvised vocals for the tune.-Biography:James Moody was born in Savannah, Georgia...
- Joe NewmanJoe Newman (trumpeter)Joseph Dwight Newman was an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator, best known for his time with Count Basie....
- Zoot SimsZoot SimsJohn Haley "Zoot" Sims was an American jazz saxophonist, playing mainly tenor and soprano.-Biography:He was born in Inglewood, California, the son of vaudeville performers Kate Haley and John Sims. Growing up in a performing family, Sims learned to play both drums and clarinet at an early age...
Compositions
Acea is listed as co-composerComposer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
on "Nice 'N' Greasy" – the closing track to Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson
Lou Donaldson is a jazz alto saxophonist. He was born in Badin, North Carolina. He is best known for his soulful, bluesy approach to playing the alto saxophone, although in his formative years he was, as many were of the bebop era, heavily influenced by Charlie Parker.His first recordings were...
's 1962 effort, The Natural Soul
The Natural Soul
The Natural Soul is an album by jazz saxophonist Lou Donaldson recorded for the Blue Note label in 1962 and performed by Donaldson with Grant Green, Tommy Turrentine, Big John Patton, and Ben Dixon....
. He is also credited as a composer on recordings by Gillespie, Jacquet and Moody.
As Sideman
With Leo ParkerLeo Parker
Leo Parker was an American jazz baritone saxophonist.Parker studied alto saxophone in high school, and played this instrument on a recording with Coleman Hawkins in 1944. He switched to baritone saxophone later that year when he joined Billy Eckstine's bebop band, playing there until 1946...
- Rollin' with LeoRollin' with LeoRollin' with Leo is the second, and last, album as a leader by American jazz saxophonist Leo Parker, recorded in 1961 but not released on the Blue Note label until 1980.-Reception:...
(Blue Note, 1961)
With Don Wilkerson
Don Wilkerson
Don Wilkerson was an American soul jazz / R&B tenor saxophonist born in Moreauville, Louisiana, probably better known for his Blue Note Records recordings in the 1960s as bandleader with guitarist Grant Green. Prior to signing with the label, he worked frequently with Cannonball Adderley...
- Elder DonElder DonElder Don is an album by American saxophonist Don Wilkerson recorded in 1962 and released on the Blue Note label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine awarded the album 4½ stars and stated "records like this go a long way in proving that Wilkerson was one of the great underrated...
(Blue Note, 1962)