Bobby Hackett's Biography
Bobby Hackett's mellow tone and melodic style offered a contrast to the brasher Dixieland-oriented trumpeters. Emphasizing his middle-register and lyricism, Hackett was a flexible soloist who actually sounded little like his main inspiration, Louis Armstrong.
When Hackett first came up he was briefly known as "the new Bix" because of the similarity in his approach to that of Bix Beiderbecke, but very soon he developed his own distinctive sound. Originally a guitarist (which he doubled on until the mid-'40s), Hackett performed in local bands, and by 1936 was leading his own group. He moved to New York in 1937, played with Joe Marsala, appeared at Benny Goodman's 1938 Carnegie Hall concert (recreating Beiderbecke's solo on "I'm Coming Virginia"), recorded with Eddie Condon, and by 1939 had a short-lived big band. Hackett played briefly with Horace Heidt, and during 1941-1942 was with Glenn Miller's Orchestra, taking a famous solo on "String of Pearls." Next up was a stint with The Casa Loma Orchestra, and then he became a studio musician while still appearing with jazz groups. Hackett was a major asset at Louis Armstrong's 1947 Town Hall Concert, in the 1950s he was a star on Jackie Gleason's commercial but jazz-flavored mood music albums, and he recorded several times with Eddie Condon and Jack Teagarden. During 1956-1957, Hackett led an unusual group that sought to modernize Dixieland (using Dick Cary's arrangements and an unusual instrumentation), but that band did not catch on. Hackett recorded some commercial dates during 1959-1960 (including one set of Hawaiian songs and another in which he was backed by pipe organ), he worked with Benny Goodman (1962-1963); backed Tony Bennett in the mid-'60s; co-led a well-recorded quintet with Vic Dickenson (1968-1970); and made sessions with Jim Cullum, The World's Greatest Jazz Band, and even Dizzy Gillespie and Mary Lou Williams, remaining active up until his death. Among the many labels Bobby Hackett recorded for as a leader were Okeh (reissued by Epic), Commodore, Columbia, Epic, Capitol, Sesac, Verve, Project 3, Chiaroscuro, Flying Dutchman, and Honey Dew. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
When Hackett first came up he was briefly known as "the new Bix" because of the similarity in his approach to that of Bix Beiderbecke, but very soon he developed his own distinctive sound. Originally a guitarist (which he doubled on until the mid-'40s), Hackett performed in local bands, and by 1936 was leading his own group. He moved to New York in 1937, played with Joe Marsala, appeared at Benny Goodman's 1938 Carnegie Hall concert (recreating Beiderbecke's solo on "I'm Coming Virginia"), recorded with Eddie Condon, and by 1939 had a short-lived big band. Hackett played briefly with Horace Heidt, and during 1941-1942 was with Glenn Miller's Orchestra, taking a famous solo on "String of Pearls." Next up was a stint with The Casa Loma Orchestra, and then he became a studio musician while still appearing with jazz groups. Hackett was a major asset at Louis Armstrong's 1947 Town Hall Concert, in the 1950s he was a star on Jackie Gleason's commercial but jazz-flavored mood music albums, and he recorded several times with Eddie Condon and Jack Teagarden. During 1956-1957, Hackett led an unusual group that sought to modernize Dixieland (using Dick Cary's arrangements and an unusual instrumentation), but that band did not catch on. Hackett recorded some commercial dates during 1959-1960 (including one set of Hawaiian songs and another in which he was backed by pipe organ), he worked with Benny Goodman (1962-1963); backed Tony Bennett in the mid-'60s; co-led a well-recorded quintet with Vic Dickenson (1968-1970); and made sessions with Jim Cullum, The World's Greatest Jazz Band, and even Dizzy Gillespie and Mary Lou Williams, remaining active up until his death. Among the many labels Bobby Hackett recorded for as a leader were Okeh (reissued by Epic), Commodore, Columbia, Epic, Capitol, Sesac, Verve, Project 3, Chiaroscuro, Flying Dutchman, and Honey Dew. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Bobby Hackett's Albums
- The Swingin'est Gals in Town
- The Jazz Impressions of Oliver!
- Live at Nick's & Boston (2006)
- Live at the Roosevelt Grill With Vic Dickenson, Vol. 4 (2003)
- Butterfly Airs (2003)
- Back Stage with Bobby Hackett: Milwaukee 1951 (2000)
- Sextet & Quintet (1999)
- In Concert (1998)
- Live At Music Room (1996)
- You Stepped out of a Dream (1995)
- We Dig Dixieland Jazz (1992)
- Goodnight My Love (1988)
- My Foolish Heart (1985)
- Tin Roof Blues (1976)
- Strike Up the Band (1974)
- What a Wonderful World (1973)
- Live at the Roosevelt Grill, Vol. 3 (1970)
- Live at the Roosevelt Grill (1970)
- Live at the Roosevelt Grill, Vol. 2 (1970)
- Live from Mannasas (1969)
- Melody Is a Must: Live at the Roosevelt Grill (1969)
- This Is Our Bag (1968)
- Brazil (1968)
- A Time for Love (1968)
- Creole Cookin' (1967)
- The That Midnight Touch (1967)
- A String of Pearls (1966)
- Trumpets' Greatest Hits (1965)
- Hello Louis (1964)
- Bobby Hackett Plays Bert Kaempfert (1963)
- The Music of Bert Kaempfert (1963)
- Bobby Hackett Plays Henry Mancini (1963)
- Jazz Version of "Oliver" (1963)
- Bobby Hackett's Sextet (1962)
- Night Love (1962)
- Most Beautiful Horn in the World (1961)
- Candlelight and Romance (1960)
- The Spirit Swings Me (1960)
- Easy Beat (1960)
- Hawaii Swings (1959)
- Blues with a Kick (1959)
- The Bobby Hackett Quartet (1959)
- Live from the Voyager Room, Vol. 2 (1957)
- Bobby Hackett at the Embers (1957)
- Jazz Ultimate (1957)
- Off Minor (1957)
- Bobby Hackett's Jazz Band: 1957 (1957)
- Gotham Jazz Scene (1957)
- Don't Take Your Love from Me (1957)
- Live from the Voyager Room (1956)
- Coast Concert (1955)
- Moonlight Becomes You (1954)
- In a Mellow Mood (1954)
- Soft Lights (1953)
- Live at the Rustic Lodge (1949)
- Horn a Plenty (1944)
- Battle of Jazz, Vol. 5 (1943)
- The Hackett Horn (1938)
Compilations
- Last Encounter: Hollywood Bowl 1963 (2006)
- 1948-1954 (2006)
- V-Disc Recording Parties (2005)
- Complete In a Mellow Mood & Soft Lights Sessions (2004)
- A String of Pearls/Trumpets' Greatest Hits (2002)
- The Swingin'est Gals in Town/Jazz Impressions of Oliver! (2002)
- Bobby Hackett Plays Henry Mancini/Bobby Hackett Plays Bert Kaempfert (2002)
- Hello Louis/Plays Tony Bennett's Greatest Hits (2001)
- At the Jazz Band Ball: 1938-1940 (2001)
- Poor Butterfly (2001)
- Complete Capitol Bobby Hackett Solo Sessions (2001)
- Soft Lights/In a Mellow Mood (2000)
- Bobby Hackett (1999)
- 1943-1947 (1999)
- 1938-1940 (1997)
- String of Pearls [Pearl] (1996)
- Memorable & Mellow Bobby Hackett (1967)
- Plays Tony Bennett's Greatest Hits (1966)
- Bobby Hackett with Strings (1966)
- Jazz Ultimate/Coast Concert (1955)
- Dr. Jazz Series, Vol. 10 (1952)
- Trumpet Solos (1946)
- Bobby Hackett and His Orchestra (1944)
- 1943: The Complete World Broadcasting Jam Session (1943)
- That Da Da Strain (1938)
Singles & EPs
DVDs & Videos
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