Min Leibrook
Encyclopedia
Wilford F. Leibrook (January 18, 1903 - June 8, 1943) was an American jazz
tubist and bassist.
Born in Hamilton, Ohio
, Leibrook began as a cornet
ist before switching to tuba
and bass. In the 1920s he played in the Ten Foot Band in Chicago
. He played in The Wolverines
in 1924 alongside Bix Beiderbecke
, where he made his first recordings, and later joined the band of Arnold Johnson
.
In 1927 he moved to New York City
, where he played in the Paul Whiteman
Orchestra until 1931. During this time he began recording on bass saxophone
, mostly with small jazz groups from the Whiteman band under Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer
.
He worked later in the 1930s with Lennie Hayton
and Eddie Duchin, mostly on string bass. He returned to bass sax in 1936 to play in the group The Three T's, with Trumbauer, Jack Teagarden
, and Charlie Teagarden
.
By the late 1930s, Leibrook moved to Los Angeles
and worked as a bassist in radio and theaters. He never recorded as a leader.
Leibrook died at age 40 as a result of a brain tumor.
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...
tubist and bassist.
Born in Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton, Ohio
Hamilton is a city in Butler County, southwestern Ohio, United States. The population was 62,447 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Butler County. The city is part of the Cincinnati metropolitan area....
, Leibrook began as a cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
ist before switching to tuba
Tuba
The tuba is the largest and lowest-pitched brass instrument. Sound is produced by vibrating or "buzzing" the lips into a large cupped mouthpiece. It is one of the most recent additions to the modern symphony orchestra, first appearing in the mid-19th century, when it largely replaced the...
and bass. In the 1920s he played in the Ten Foot Band in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He played in The Wolverines
The Wolverines
The Wolverines were an American jazz band. They were one of the most successful territory bands of the American Midwest in the 1920s.-History:...
in 1924 alongside Bix Beiderbecke
Bix Beiderbecke
Leon Bismark "Bix" Beiderbecke was an American jazz cornetist, jazz pianist, and composer.With Louis Armstrong, Beiderbecke was one of the most influential jazz soloists of the 1920s...
, where he made his first recordings, and later joined the band of Arnold Johnson
Arnold Johnson
Arnold M. Johnson was an American industrialist, businessman and sportsman, who purchased the storied but financially unsound Philadelphia Athletics baseball club and moved it to Kansas City, Missouri, in the autumn of 1954...
.
In 1927 he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where he played in the Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman
Paul Samuel Whiteman was an American bandleader and orchestral director.Leader of the most popular dance bands in the United States during the 1920s, Whiteman's recordings were immensely successful, and press notices often referred to him as the "King of Jazz"...
Orchestra until 1931. During this time he began recording on bass saxophone
Bass saxophone
The bass saxophone is the second largest member of the saxophone family. Its design is similar to that of the baritone saxophone, with a loop of tubing near the mouthpiece. It was the first type of saxophone presented to the public, when Adolphe Sax exhibited a bass saxophone in C at an exhibition...
, mostly with small jazz groups from the Whiteman band under Beiderbecke and Frankie Trumbauer
Frankie Trumbauer
Orie Frank Trumbauer was one of the leading jazz saxophonists of the 1920s and 1930s. He played the C-melody saxophone which, in size, is between an alto and tenor saxophone...
.
He worked later in the 1930s with Lennie Hayton
Lennie Hayton
Leonard George "Lennie" Hayton was an American Jewish composer, conductor and arranger. His trademark was the wearing of a captain’s hat, which he always wore at a rakish angle....
and Eddie Duchin, mostly on string bass. He returned to bass sax in 1936 to play in the group The Three T's, with Trumbauer, Jack Teagarden
Jack Teagarden
Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden , known as "Big T" and "The Swingin' Gate", was an influential jazz trombonist, bandleader, composer, and vocalist, regarded as the "Father of Jazz Trombone".-Early life:...
, and Charlie Teagarden
Charlie Teagarden
Charlie Teagarden was an American jazz trumpeter. He was the younger brother of Jack Teagarden....
.
By the late 1930s, Leibrook moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and worked as a bassist in radio and theaters. He never recorded as a leader.
Leibrook died at age 40 as a result of a brain tumor.