HUMBERTO AMORIM - JAZZ IS TIMELESS

DOC CHEATHAM, TAL QUAL O VINHO. O trompetista Doc Cheatham também conhecido como Adolphus Anthony Cheatham, nasceu no 13 de junho de 1905 e foi, sem sombra de dúvida, o mais notável trompetista de 90 anos de idade, de todos os tempos. Nenhum outro musico com mais de 80 anos, conseguiu como ele, tocar com tanto vigor, alcance, firmeza e criatividade melódica.

A maioria dos trompetistas se aposentam por volta dos sessenta anos devido as dificuldades impostas pelo instrumento, mas no caso de Cheatham, ele se tornou um solista, somente a beira dos setenta anos.

Começou a carreira nos anos 20 nos teatros de vaudeveille acompanhando Bessie Smith e Clara Smith. Foi morar em Chicago, gravou com Ma Rainey (tocando sax soprano), Albert Wynn, substituiu Louis Armstrong (seu ídolo) e formou sua banda em 1926. Viajou pela Europa com Sam Wooding.

Tocou com a banda de Teddy Wilson e com o Sexteto de Eddie Heywood com o qual gravou com Billie Holiday. Tocou durante um bom periodo com Benny Goodman. Gravou frequentemente até a sua morte em 1997.

Nota do Blog - O CD "Doc Cheatham & Nicholas Peyton", (1997 - Polygram Records) onde ele toca e canta classicos obscuros dos anos 30 como "Do You Believe in Love at Sight" e "Maybe" quando ja tinha 91 anos e Nicholas apenas 23, recebeu da critica especializada as melhores referencias.

The matchup between trumpeters Doc Cheatham (91 at the time) andNicholas Peyton (just 23) is quite logical and delightful. Cheatham, one of the few survivors of the 1920s, was still in remarkably fine form, while Payton (a flexible New Orleans player capable of ranging from Dixieland to Freddie Hubbard) is both respectful and inspiring. They explore a variety of 1920s and '30s standards, including a couple of obscurities ("Do You Believe in Love at Sight?" and "Maybe").

The interplay between the co-leaders, the many subtle tributes to Louis Armstrong, and the consistent enthusiasm of this swinging set make this a historic success and a very enjoyable outing.

Clique para ouvir Doc no melhor de si "On the Sunny Side of the Street"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWcVkdvHb4c

Reference – jazz.com
Tradução - Humberto Amorim

Doc Cheatham was without question the greatest 90-year old trumpeter of all time; in fact, no brass player over the age of 80 had ever played with his power, range, confidence, and melodic creativity.

Most trumpeters fade while in their 60s due to the physical difficulty of their instrument, but Cheatham did not truly find himself as a soloist until he was nearly 70.Doc Cheatham's career reaches back to the early '20s, when he played in vaudeville theaters backing such traveling singers as Bessie Smith and Clara Smith. He moved to Chicago, recorded with Ma Rainey (on soprano sax), played with Albert Wynn, subbed for Louis Armstrong (his main idol), and had his own group in 1926. After stints with Wilbur DeParis and Chick Webb, he toured Europe with Sam Wooding. Due to his wide range and pretty tone, Cheatham worked as a non-soloing first trumpeter with McKinney's Cotton Pickers and Cab Calloway throughout the 1930s.

He spent time with Teddy Wilson's big band, and was with the commercially successful Eddie Heywood Sextet (backing Billie Holiday on some recordings). In the 1950s, Cheatham alternated between Dixieland (Wilbur DeParis, guest spots with Eddie Condon) and Latin bands (Perez Prado, Herbie Mann).

He was with Benny Goodman during 1966-1967, but it was not until the mid-'70s that Cheatham felt truly comfortable as a soloist.

Duet sets with pianist Sammy Price launched his new career, and until his death in 1997, he recorded fairly prolifically including dates for Sackville, New York Jazz, Parkwood, Stash, GHB, Columbia, and several European labels. Cheatham was also a charming singer whose half-spoken, half-sung vocals took nothing away from his chance-taking trumpet flights.

Reference-Scott Yanow