Research Catalog

Oral history interview with Jon Faddis

Title
Oral history interview with Jon Faddis / Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project ; interview conducted by Jimmy Owens.
Author
Faddis, Jon
Publication
New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1993.

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Disc 2Moving imageBy appointment only Sc Visual DVD-1069 Disc 2Schomburg Center - Moving Image & Recorded Sound
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Disc 1Moving imageBy appointment only Sc Visual DVD-1069 Disc 1Schomburg Center - Moving Image & Recorded Sound

Details

Additional Authors
  • Murray, James Briggs
  • Owens, Jimmy
  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
  • Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.
Description
2 videodiscs (127 min.) : sound, color; 4 3/4 in.
Summary
The oral history interview with jazz trumpeter, Jon Faddis, begins his childhood in Oakland, California, and his audition for the Lionel Hampton Band directly after high school. Jon Faddis is a jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger. Born July 21, 1953 in Oakland, California, Faddis began playing trumpet at age 7. His career took off after high school when he moved to New York City and became well known for his range in the upper registers; has performed and recorded extensively. Faddis began private trumpet lessons with John Lambert and began playing in the school band at age 7. From ages 10 - 16, Faddis studied with Bill Catalano who turned him onto Dizzy Gillespie and helped him with his range in the higher registers. By 7th or 8th grade, Faddis was playing high F's, studying Dizzy's solos along with Louis Armstrong's music, and was concentrating on speed and technique. Later Faddis studied improvisation, chord symbols, and basic theory with Bill Atwood. Faddis recalls meeting Dizzy for the first time at Basin Street West, later at the Monterey Jazz Festival and the Jazz Workshop where he actually got to play with Dizzy on stage. His main influences at this point: Dizzy, Bill Chasin, Snookie Young; his main concern: achieving a sound that could cut through a big band. Faddis describes the method he used to learn difficult passages off of records and about his brief time at the Manhattan School of Music while playing with Thad Lewis. Faddis elaborates further on his childhood, parents, siblings and explains how music always had the ability to change his moods. A highlight of his earlier career was when Dizzy came to hear him play with Charles Mingus at the Village Vanguard. Faddis goes on to describe his friendship with Dizzy and recalls some events therein. 1970-72, Faddis was active in studio work and recording. In 1976, he made his first recording as leader on Youngblood. Faddis married in the mid 1970s and turned down an offer from Norman Granz who wanted to book a tour for him. Also during this period he worked in the studio with Quincy Jones on The Wiz, with Frank Sinatra and the N.Y. Jazz Repertoire Co., played with Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Art Blakey, Charles Mingus and Gil Evans; was maintaining his chops, keeping technique together and practicing chromatics. He attributes his facility in the upper registers to listening to Dizzy and Roy Eldridge playing together on Limehouse Blues and Found a New Baby. Early 1980s, Faddis started a quintet, got out more playing his own music and tried to develop his style further. 1985, he recorded Legacy which paid tribute to trumpet heroes. Faddis was also learning the business side to the music industry; he tells about starting his own publishing company although he still has a booking agent. He strongly encourages younger musicians to learn the business side of the industry.
Subjects
Genre/Form
  • Interviews.
  • Nonfiction films.
  • Oral histories.
Credits (note)
  • Produced and directed by James Briggs Murray.
Terms of Use (note)
  • Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.
Biography (note)
  • Jon Faddis is a jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger. Born July 21, 1953 in Oakland, California, Faddis began playing trumpet at age 7. His career took off after high school when he moved to New York City and became well known for his range in the upper registers; has performed and recorded extensively.
Linking Entry (note)
  • Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.
Call Number
Sc Visual VRA-187a, b
OCLC
893676172
Author
Faddis, Jon, interviewee.
Title
Oral history interview with Jon Faddis / Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project ; interview conducted by Jimmy Owens.
Production
New York : Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, 1993.
Country of Producing Entity
United States.
Type of Content
two-dimensional moving image
Type of Medium
video
Type of Carrier
videodisc
Digital File Characteristics
video file DVD
Credits
Produced and directed by James Briggs Murray.
Performer
Faddis performs excerpts, mainly to demonstrate technique on trumpet.
Event
Recorded August 20, 1993 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Terms Of Use
Permission required to cite, quote and reproduce; contact repository for information.
Biography
Jon Faddis is a jazz trumpeter, composer and arranger. Born July 21, 1953 in Oakland, California, Faddis began playing trumpet at age 7. His career took off after high school when he moved to New York City and became well known for his range in the upper registers; has performed and recorded extensively.
Linking Entry
Forms part of: Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.
Connect to:
Request Access to Schomburg Moving Images and Recorded Sound
Added Author
Murray, James Briggs, producer.
Murray, James Briggs, director.
Owens, Jimmy, interviewer.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Louis Armstrong Jazz Oral History Project.
Research Call Number
Sc Visual DVD-1069
Sc Visual VRA-187a, b Service copy.
Sc Visual VRC-10a, b Original of: Sc Visual VRA-187a, b.
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