Wilbur Harden: Biography

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• Gene Shaw
• Blue Mitchell
• Idrees Sulieman
• Charles Tolliver
• Red Rodney
• Tom Harrell
• Bobby Shew

• Fats Navarro
• Clifford Brown
• Dizzy Gillespie
• Thad Jones
• Miles Davis/Charlie Parker

• Yusef Lateef
• Rudy Van Gelder
• Art Taylor
• Paul Chambers
• John Coltrane

Born:

Jan 1, 1925 in Birmingham, AL

Genres:

Jazz Music, Bop Jazz Music

Decades Active:

1950's|1960's

Artistic Quality

Low

Cultural Impact

Low

Popularity

Low

Ratings Guide

Wilbur Harden is a mystery man in jazz history, for he appeared on some important recording sessions (most notably with John Coltrane) and then, after 1960, pretty well disappeared. He played RB with Roy Brown (1950) and Ivory Joe Hunter, and then served in the Navy. Harden emerged in 1957, recording with Yusef Lateef, and led four record dates for Savoy in 1958; three were with Coltrane (who became the leader on reissues), and one in a quartet with Tommy Flanagan. In 1960, Wilbur Harden (who was one of the first trumpeters to regularly double on flügelhorn) recorded one title with Curtis Fuller, but then ill health forced him to retire at the age of 35.

- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide