Buster Harding (Lavere) 1917

Photo Courtesy memim.com

Pianista e arrangiatore statunitense (Ontario, Canada, 19.03.1917 – New York, 14.11.1965). Cresciuto a Cleveland, impara a suonare il pianoforte da autodidatta e dirige un gruppo prima di far parte del complesso di Marion Sears (1938). A New York nel 1939, diventa l’arrangiatore e, occasionalmente, il pianista della grande orchestra di Teddy Wilson fino al 1940. Dirige un quartetto, scrive arrangiamenti per Coleman Hawkins (1939), Cab Calloway (1941-42) e lavora come freelance, per Artie Shaw, Larry Clinton, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey e Benny Goodman.

Durante gli anni ‘50 è il direttore musicale e talvolta l’accompagnatore di Billie Holiday. La cattiva salute lo costringe a rallentare le sue attività. Fra i suoi arrangiamenti più riusciti possiamo citare: Call Me Happy, Windy City Jive (Earl Hines, 1940), A Smooth One (Cab Calloway, 1941).

Con Count Basie: 9:20 Special (1941), Rusty Dusty Blues (1942), Hobnail Boogie (1946), Paradise Squat (1952); Little Jazz (A. Shaw, 1945), Baby, Get Lost (B. Holiday, 1949), Cool Eyes (Gillespie, 1954).
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American pianist and arranger (Ontario, Canada, 19.03.1917 - New York, 14.11.1965). Raised in Cleveland, he learns to play the piano independently and leads a group before joining Marion Sears (1938). In New York in 1939, he becomes the arranger and, occasionally, the pianist of the great orchestra of Teddy Wilson until 1940. He conducts a quartet, writes arrangements for Coleman Hawkins (1939), Cab Calloway (1941-42), and works as a freelance for Artie Shaw, Larry Clinton, Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, and Benny Goodman.

During the 1950s, he was the musical director and sometimes the accompanist of Billie Holiday. Poor health forces him to slow down his activities. Among his most successful arrangements, we can mention: Call Me Happy, Windy City Jive (Earl Hines, 1940), A Smooth One (Cab Calloway, 1941).

With Count Basie: 9:20 Special (1941), Rusty Dusty Blues (1942), Hobnail Boogie (1946), Paradise Squat (1952); Little Jazz (A. Shaw, 1945), Baby, Get Lost (B. Holiday, 1949), Cool Eyes (Gillespie, 1954).
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