Weldon Leo "Jack" Teagarden (August 20, 1905 – January 15, 1964) was an American jazz trombonist and singer. He led both of his bands himself and was a sideman for Paul Whiteman's orchestra. From 1946 to 1951, he played in Louis Armstrong's All-Stars. Charles encouraged Teagarden to play the baritone horn. At age eight, Jack received his first trombone as a Christmas gift, transitioning from the tenor-valve horn to the trombone. His first public performances were in his local theaters, helping his mother provide music for silent films. After his father's death, the family moved to Chappell, Nebraska where he and his mother continued working in theaters.
Teagarden became the youngest member of the Paul Goetze Band at age 11.
Music career
thumb|left|200px|From left: Jack Teagarden, Sandy DeSantis, [[Velma Middleton, Fraser MacPherson, Cozy Cole, Arvell Shaw, Earl Hines, Barney Bigard, Palomar Supper Club, Vancouver, B.C., Canada (March 17, 1951)]]
At the age of 16, Teagarden began playing the trombone professionally in San Antonio as a member of Cotton Bailey's dance and jazz band.
In the late 1920s, he recorded with musicians such as Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Bix Beiderbecke, Red Nichols, Jimmy McPartland, Mezz Mezzrow, Glenn Miller, Eddie Condon, and Fats Waller. In 1931, Teagarden's own orchestra recorded the tune "Chances Are" with Fats Waller playing piano and Jack singing and playing trombone. Miller and Teagarden collaborated to provide lyrics to Spencer Williams' "Basin Street Blues", which became one of Teagarden's most frequently played numbers. Teagarden was honored with tributes from musicians and fans.
thumb|Bourbon Street, French Quarter, New Orleans
The Los Angeles Times noted that Teagarden was celebrated for his innovations in trombone technique and his soulful, blues-inflected vocals.
Style and technique
Largely self-taught, Teagarden developed unusual alternative positions and special effects on the trombone. He is considered an innovative jazz trombone stylist of the pre-bebop era. Pee Wee Russell called him "the best trombone player in the world".
Jack Teagarden's trombone playing did not follow traditional Dixieland style. Instead, he adopted characteristics of his own, including upper register solos, not using a strict solo beat, and lip trills.
Jack Teagarden's trombone playing combined smooth, horizontal melodic phrasing with a distinctive use of vertical, arpeggiated lines. His improvisational style, showcased in performances like his 1953 solo on "Lover," was characterized by a balance of technical skill and melodic fluidity. Critics have highlighted his warm, vocal-like tone throughout his performances.
Legacy
Jack Teagarden performed for diverse audiences, including royal families in Cambodia and Thailand. Despite facing many challenges, including financial struggles during the Great Depression, Teagarden viewed the acceptance of jazz as a cultural achievement. Gunther Schuller praised Teagarden's ability to combine technical brilliance with emotional depth. and the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1985.
Discography
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