- Ward Pinkett
Ward Pinkett (
April 29 1906 —March 15 1937 ) was an Americanjazz trumpeter remembered for playing two uniquely talented solo numbers in recordings by the legendary jazz pianist and bandleaderJelly Roll Morton . His promising musical career was cut short by alcoholism and illness.The son of an amateur
cornet player, Ward Pinkett started playing thetrumpet when he was just ten years old. He played in the school band atHampton Institute and later attended theNew Haven Conservatory of Music.After working with the White Brothers Orchestra in
Washington D.C. , Pinkett moved toNew York City . He played for brief periods with the bands ofCharlie Johnson ,Willie Gant ,Billy Fowler ,Henri Saparo ,Joe Steele andCharlie Skeete . During his stint with Jelly Roll Morton in 1928–30, he participated in seven of Morton's recording sessions and his solos on "Strokin' Away" and "Low Gravy" (both recorded onJuly 14 1930 ) are considered by music historians to be the best of his career. He also worked withChick Webb ,Bingie Madison ,Rex Stewart (1933) andTeddy Hill , but was never able to achieve fame. In 1935 he teamed withAlbert Nicholas andBernard Addison atAdrian Rollini 's Tap Room and also had a short stint withLouis Metcalf 's Big Band. In addition to the Jelly Roll Morton recordings, he recorded withKing Oliver ,Bubber Miley , Clarence Williams,James P. Johnson and theLittle Ramblers .Ward Pinkett died of alcoholism-aggravated
pneumonia six weeks short of his thirty-first birthday.
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