Monk Hazel
Encyclopedia
Monk Hazel was a jazz drummer
.
In addition to being a well regarded drummer, Hazel occasionally took solos on brass instruments, notably cornet
and melophone. Monk Hazel was a fixture on the New Orleans music scene for decades. Hazel's father was a drummer as well. Early on Monk played drums with Emmett Hardy
, who gave him his first cornet, and then with Stalebread Lacombe. In the 1920s, Hazel worked with many bands including those led by Abbie Brunies (the Halfway House Orchestra), Tony Parenti
(with whom he recorded in 1925) and Johnny Wiggs
. He led his own Bienville Roof Orchestra (which played for atop the Bienville Hotel at Lee Circle, and made recordings in 1928) and then spent time in New York playing with Johnny Wiggs, Jack Pettis and with his own group (1929-31). Hazel was in Hollywood for a period (working with Gene Austin
) but eventually came back to New Orleans, performing with Joe Caprano (1937) and the Lloyd Danton Quintet. Hazel spent 1942-43 in the Army and then worked for a time outside of music. However during his final 20 years, Hazel was once again quite active in New Orleans, performing with Sharkey Bonano
, George Girard
, Mike Lala, Santo Pecora
and virtually every other important name in New Orleans jazz. As a leader, Monk Hazel recorded four titles in 1928 for Brunswick Records
and a full album for Southland Records
in 1954; Pete Fountain and Al Hirt were among his sidemen on the latter recording.
Jazz drumming
Jazz drumming is the art of playing percussion in jazz styles ranging from 1910s-style Dixieland jazz to 1970s-era jazz-rock fusion and 1980s-era latin jazz...
.
In addition to being a well regarded drummer, Hazel occasionally took solos on brass instruments, notably 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...
and melophone. Monk Hazel was a fixture on the New Orleans music scene for decades. Hazel's father was a drummer as well. Early on Monk played drums with Emmett Hardy
Emmett Hardy
Emmett Louis Hardy was an early jazz cornet player and one of the best regarded New Orleans musicians of his generation....
, who gave him his first cornet, and then with Stalebread Lacombe. In the 1920s, Hazel worked with many bands including those led by Abbie Brunies (the Halfway House Orchestra), Tony Parenti
Tony Parenti
Tony Parenti was an American jazz clarinettist and saxophonist born in New Orleans, perhaps best-known for his decades of work in New York City.-Biography:...
(with whom he recorded in 1925) and Johnny Wiggs
Johnny Wiggs
Johnny Wiggs was a jazz musician and band leader.Born John Wigginton Hyman on in New Orleans, Louisiana, he started his music career on the violin. He soon adopted the cornet and moved to New York for some time before returning to New Orleans...
. He led his own Bienville Roof Orchestra (which played for atop the Bienville Hotel at Lee Circle, and made recordings in 1928) and then spent time in New York playing with Johnny Wiggs, Jack Pettis and with his own group (1929-31). Hazel was in Hollywood for a period (working with Gene Austin
Gene Austin
Gene Austin was an American singer and songwriter, one of the first "crooners". His 1920s compositions "When My Sugar Walks Down the Street" and "The Lonesome Road" became pop and jazz standards.-Career:...
) but eventually came back to New Orleans, performing with Joe Caprano (1937) and the Lloyd Danton Quintet. Hazel spent 1942-43 in the Army and then worked for a time outside of music. However during his final 20 years, Hazel was once again quite active in New Orleans, performing with Sharkey Bonano
Sharkey Bonano
Joseph "Sharkey" Bonano was a jazz trumpeter, band leader, and vocalist....
, George Girard
George Girard
George Girard was a New Orleans jazz trumpeter. He was known for his great technical ability, playing in a style that combined traditional New Orleans Dixieland jazz with the big-band-style trumpet, and a member of the Basin Street Six.Girard was born in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana...
, Mike Lala, Santo Pecora
Santo Pecora
Santo Pecoraro, better known as Santo Pecora was an American jazz trombonist known for his longtime association with the New Orleans jazz scene....
and virtually every other important name in New Orleans jazz. As a leader, Monk Hazel recorded four titles in 1928 for Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records
Brunswick Records is a United States based record label. The label is currently distributed by E1 Entertainment.-From 1916:Records under the "Brunswick" label were first produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company...
and a full album for Southland Records
Southland Records
Southland Records is a New Orleans, Louisiana based independent record label.Southland was founded c.1948 by Joeseph P. Mares. Mares was the an amateur jazz clarinetist, and the younger brother of noted jazz cornetist Paul Mares...
in 1954; Pete Fountain and Al Hirt were among his sidemen on the latter recording.