Harry Carney: Biography

• Overview
• Discography
• Biography
• Related Artists

• Ronnie Cuber
• Jerry Sawicki
• Serge Chaloff

• Cecil Payne
• Sahib Shihab
• Joe Temperley
• John Surman
• Gerry Mulligan
• Pepper Adams
• Moacir Santos

• Duke Ellington

• Sonny Greer
• Lawrence Brown
• Cootie Williams
• Ray Nance
• Johnny Hodges
• Russell Procope
• Jimmy Hamilton

Born:

Apr 1, 1910 in Boston, MA

Died:

Oct 8, 1974 in New York, NY

Genres:

Classical Music, Swing

Decades Active:

1920's|1930's|1940's|1950's|1960's|1970's

Artistic Quality

Medium

Cultural Impact

Medium

Popularity

Medium

Ratings Guide

Although he was not the first jazz baritone saxophonist, Harry Carney achieved his goal of making the instrument "necessary" in a big band. His tone was huge and definitive, and his style mixed together Coleman Hawkins and Adrian Rollini; he was also one of the first jazz musicians to master circular breathing (which he generally used to hold an endlessly long note). Early on, he played piano, clarinet, and alto before deciding on baritone. Carney joined Duke Ellington's Orchestra when he was 17 in 1927, and remained for over 46 years, passing away in 1974 a few months after Ellington. Although he originally doubled on alto for Duke, added bass clarinet in later years, and traditionally took the clarinet solo on "Rockin' in Rhythm," he otherwise stuck exclusively to baritone. Other than two obscure record dates as a leader, Harry Carney can only be heard on Duke Ellingtonassociated recordings, but he has many short solos and his presence was always felt in the ensembles.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide