Widespread Depression Jazz Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Widespread Depression Jazz Orchestra was a nine-piece jazz
ensemble founded in 1972 at Vermont
's Marlboro College
.
Initially, the group played 1950's style R&B and early rock and roll
with guitars, piano, sax, bass guitar, drums, and a vocalist, but by the middle of the 1970s was operating as a big band
revival group, in the style of the bands of Jimmie Lunceford
, Count Basie
, Duke Ellington
, and Lionel Hampton
. The unit moved to New York
in 1978 under the leadership of Jon Holtzman, when it recorded the first of several full-length albums. In 1980 five of its members played on their own as a bebop
group.
Holtzman left the group around 1982, when Michael Hashim
, the group's alto saxophonist, was named leader. He renamed the group the Widespread Jazz Orchestra, and broadened their repertory to include swing and bop. They played regularly at New York's Cafe Gianluca in 1988.
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...
ensemble founded in 1972 at Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
's Marlboro College
Marlboro College
Marlboro College is a small, coeducational, alternative liberal-arts college in Marlboro, Vermont, USA.-History:Marlboro College was founded in 1946 by Walter Hendricks for returning World War II veterans on Potash Hill in Marlboro, Vermont. The school's operation was initially financed using money...
.
Initially, the group played 1950's style R&B and early rock and roll
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
with guitars, piano, sax, bass guitar, drums, and a vocalist, but by the middle of the 1970s was operating as a big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
revival group, in the style of the bands of Jimmie Lunceford
Jimmie Lunceford
James Melvin "Jimmie" Lunceford was an American jazz alto saxophonist and bandleader in the swing era.-Biography:...
, Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
, Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
, and Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
. The unit moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1978 under the leadership of Jon Holtzman, when it recorded the first of several full-length albums. In 1980 five of its members played on their own as a bebop
Bebop
Bebop differed drastically from the straightforward compositions of the swing era, and was instead characterized by fast tempos, asymmetrical phrasing, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that expanded on their role as tempo-keepers...
group.
Holtzman left the group around 1982, when Michael Hashim
Michael Hashim
Michael James Hashim is an American jazz alto saxophonist.Hashim began playing saxophone while in elementary school, playing with Phil Flanigan and Chris Flory as a high schooler. He worked with both into the middle 1970s, and in 1976 he toured with Muddy Waters and played with the Widespread...
, the group's alto saxophonist, was named leader. He renamed the group the Widespread Jazz Orchestra, and broadened their repertory to include swing and bop. They played regularly at New York's Cafe Gianluca in 1988.
Discography
- Downtown Uproar -- as The Widespread Depression Orchestra (Stash Records, 1979)
- Boogie in the Barnyard -- as The Widespread Depression Orchestra (Stash, 1980)
- Time to Jump and Shout (Stash, 1981)
- Swing is the Thing (Adelphi RecordsAdelphi RecordsAdelphi Records is a US record label founded in 1968 by Gene and Carol Rosenthal.Musicians on that label are The Nighthawks and Catfish Hodge , Lenny Breau, Reuben Brown and Richie Cole , Yellowman, Big Youth and Toots & the Maytals , Rev. Gary Davis, Gene Johnson [Rock & Soul], and Rev...
, 1982) - Rockin' in Rhythm
- Paris Blues (1984)
Members
- Jordan Sandke - trumpet
- Tim Atherton - trombone
- Michael HashimMichael HashimMichael James Hashim is an American jazz alto saxophonist.Hashim began playing saxophone while in elementary school, playing with Phil Flanigan and Chris Flory as a high schooler. He worked with both into the middle 1970s, and in 1976 he toured with Muddy Waters and played with the Widespread...
- soprano and alto sax, leader (1982 onwards) - Dean Nicyper - tenor sax
- David Lillie - baritone sax
- Patrick Baron - piano
- Mike LeDonneMike LeDonneMichael LeDonne is a jazz pianist and organist known for post-bop and hard bop.His parents ran a music store with his father also being a jazz guitarist. He played with his father at gigs from the age of ten...
- piano - James Wimpsheimer - double bass
- Bill Eldridge - drums
- John EllisJohn Ellis-Politics:* Sir John Ellis, 1st Baronet , British Member of Parliament for Mid Surrey 1884–1885, Kingston 1885–1892* John Ellis , Irish Fianna Fáil politician...
- drums, arrangement - Jon Holtzman - vocals, vibraphone, drums, leader (to 1982)
- Dan BarrettDan Barrett (musician)Dan Barrett is an American arranger, cornetist, and trombonist.The earliest mention of Dan Barrett was in the Melody Maker, 10 February 1973, which reported that he played "Ory's Creole Trombone" at the end of Kid Ory's Funeral on 28 January that year...
- trombone - Tad Shull
- Judy NiemackJudy NiemackJudy Niemack is an American jazz vocalist.Niemack sang in a church choir from age seven. She decided on a professional career in singing at age 17, and soon after met Warne Marsh, who encouraged her to explore jazz. She studied jazz at Pasadena City College, and later at the New England...
- vocals - Bob Zuck - guitar, vocals
- Jeanie Holtzman - bass, vocals
- Nick McDougal - alto sax, guitar
- DiegoDiegoDiego is a Spanish male name derived from the Hebrew Yaʻăqōbh , via the name of Saint James the Great , re-analysed as Santiago and San Diego...
- tenor sax
Further reading
- W. R. Stokes: “Uplifting Depression,” Washington Post (19 April 1979)
- W. R. Stokes: “The Little Big Band,” Washington Post (2 March 1980)
- J. S. Wilson: “Jazz: Depression Quintet,” New York Times (26 Dec 1980)
- C. Cioe: “Backbeat: Widespread Jazz – No Longer Depressed!,” High FidelityHigh fidelityHigh fidelity—or hi-fi—reproduction is a term used by home stereo listeners and home audio enthusiasts to refer to high-quality reproduction of sound or images, to distinguish it from the poorer quality sound produced by inexpensive audio equipment...
, vol.33 no.7 (1983), p. 84 (with discography) - J. S. Wilson: “A New Big Band Identity,” New York Times (19 May 1988)