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Herbie Nichols

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Herbie Nichols was an American jazz pianist and composer, born on 3 January 1919 in San Juan Hill in Manhattan, to parents from St. Kitts and Trinidad. He grew up in Harlem. His first known work was in 1937 with the Royal Barons. A few years later he played at Minton's Playhouse, but the competitive atmosphere did not suit him. He did become friends with Thelonious Monk. In 1941 he joined the army.

Music and breakthrough

After the war he played in all kinds of line-ups, often Dixieland to earn a living, while he would rather have made adventurous jazz. Recognition came when Mary Lou Williams recorded a few of his songs in 1952. Alfred Lion of Blue Note signed him only in 1955 and 1956, and some of those recordings were not released until the 1980s. His song Serenade was given lyrics and, as Lady Sings the Blues, became associated with Billie Holiday. In 1957 he made his last album as a leader for Bethlehem Records.

Influence

Nichols combined bebop, Dixieland and Caribbean music with harmonies from Erik Satie and Béla Bartók. He was almost unknown during his lifetime and died in 1963, aged forty-four, of leukaemia. Later Roswell Rudd, Steve Lacy and the Herbie Nichols Project championed his music, and he is now regarded as one of the most idiosyncratic jazz composers.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Lady Sings the Blues, originally Nichols's Serenade. Notice how the melody is bluesy and yet unusual in its construction.

Discography

Studio albums

In School of Rock

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Categories: Artists