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William Franklin Hardman Jr. (April 6, 1933 – December 6, 1990) was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhornist who chiefly played hard bop. He was married to Roseline and they had a daughter Nadege.

Career

Hardman was born and grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and worked with local players including Bobby Few and Bob Cunningham; while in high school he appeared with Tadd Dameron, and after graduation he joined Tiny Bradshaw's band.

Playing style and legacy

A crackling hard bop player with blazing technique, crisp articulations, and a no-frills sound, Hardman later incorporated into his sound the fuller, more extroverted romantic passion of a Clifford Brown – a direction he would take increasingly throughout the late-1960s and 1970s. He figures by and large among the top ranks of hardbop titans of the time, although he never managed a commercial breakthrough like many of his colleagues such as Donald Byrd, Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan.

Discography

As leader

  • 1961Saying Something (Savoy)
  • 1978Home (Muse)
  • 1980Focus (Muse)
  • 1981Politely (Muse)
  • 1989What's Up (SteepleChase)

With Brass Company

  • 1975Colors (Strata-East)

As sideman

With Art Blakey

  • Hard Bop (Columbia, 1956)
  • Drum Suite (Columbia, 1957)
  • Selections from Lerner and Loewe's... (Vik, 1957)
  • A Night in Tunisia (Vik, 1957)
  • Cu-Bop (Jubilee, 1957)
  • Ritual: The Modern Jazz Messengers (Pacific Jazz 1957)
  • A Midnight Session with the Jazz Messengers (Elektra, 1957)
  • Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers With Thelonious Monk (Atlantic, 1957)
  • Hard Drive (Bethlehem, 1957)
  • Art Blakey Big Band (Bethlehem, 1957)
  • Jazz Messengers '70 (Catalyst, 1970)
  • Tough! (Cadet, 1966) – rec. 1957
  • Live! Vol. 1 (TRIP, 1974) – live rec. 1968
  • Backgammon (Roulette, 1976)
  • Originally (Columbia, 1982) – rec. 1956

With Lou Donaldson

  • Sunny Side Up (Blue Note, 1961) – rec. 1960
  • Possum Head (Argo, 1964)
  • Musty Rusty (Cadet, 1965)
  • Fried Buzzard (Cadet, 1970) – live rec. 1965

With Charles Earland

  • Infant Eyes (Muse, 1979)
  • Pleasant Afternoon (Muse, 1981)

With Curtis Fuller

  • Crankin (Mainstream, 1971)
  • Smokin (Mainstream, 1972)

With Jackie McLean

  • Jackie's Pal (Prestige, 1956)
  • McLean's Scene (New Jazz, 1956)
  • Jackie McLean & Co. (Prestige, 1957)

With others

  • Dave Bailey, 2 Feet in the Gutter (Epic, 1961)
  • Walter Bishop Jr, Hot House (Muse, 1979)<!-- rec. 1977–1978-->
  • Junior Cook, Good Cookin (Muse, 1979)
  • Benny Golson, Pop + Jazz = Swing (Audio Fidelity, 1961) – also released as Just Jazz!
  • Eddie Jefferson, Come Along with Me (Prestige, 1969)
  • Ronnie Mathews, Legacy (Bee Hive, 1979)
  • Jimmy McGriff, Movin' Upside the Blues (JAM, 1982)
  • Charles Mingus, A Modern Jazz Symposium of Music and Poetry (Bethlehem, 1957)
  • Hank Mobley, Hank Mobley (album) (Blue Note, 1957)
  • Houston Person, Wild Flower (Muse, 1977)
  • Sonny Stitt, In Walked Sonny (Sonnet, 1975)
  • Mickey Tucker, Sojourn (Xanadu, 1977)
  • Steve Turre, Viewpoints and Vibrations (Stash, 1987)
  • Mal Waldron, Mal/2 (Prestige, 1957)
  • Reuben Wilson, The Sweet Life (Groove Merchant, 1973)
  • Dodo Marmarosa, Dodo Marmarosa - The Chicago Sessions (1961-1962)[2 LP] (Argo Jazz, LP2, 1962-11-02)

References