Red Callender

George Sylvester "Red" Callender (March 6, 1916 – March 8, 1992) was a jazz bass and tuba player.

Biography

Callender was born in Haynesville, Virginia. In the early 1940s, he played in the Lester and Lee Young band, and then formed his own trio. In the 1940s Callender recorded with Nat King Cole, Erroll Garner, Charlie Parker, Wardell Gray, Dexter Gordon, Uffe Baadh [Frank Bode] and many others. After a period spent leading a trio in Hawaii, Callender returned to Los Angeles, becoming one of the first black musicians to work regularly in the commercial studios, including backing singer Linda Hayes on two singles. He made his recording debut at 19 with Louis Armstrong's band. However, he later turned down offers to work with Duke Ellington's Orchestra and the Louis Armstrong All-Stars.

On his 1954 Crown LP Speaks Low, Callender was one of the earliest modern jazz tuba soloists. Keeping busy up until his death, some of the highlights of the bassist's later career include recording with Art Tatum and Jo Jones (1955–1956) for the Tatum Group, playing with Charles Mingus at the 1964 Monterey Jazz Festival, working with James Newton's avant-garde woodwind quintet (on tuba), and performing as a regular member of the Cheatham's Sweet Baby Blues Band. He also reached the top of the British pop charts as a member of B. Bumble and the Stingers.

Callender died of thyroid cancer at his home in Saugus, California.

Discography

As leader

• 1956: Swingin' Suite (Modern)
• 1957: Red Callender Speaks Low (Crown Records)
• 1958: The Lowest (MetroJazz Records)
• 1973: Basin Street Brass (Legend)
• 1984: Night Mist Blues (Hemisphere)

As sideman

With Louis Bellson

• Big Band Jazz from the Summit (Roulette, 1962)

With Judy Carmichael

• Pearls (Jazzology, 1985)

With John Carter

• Dauwhe (Black Saint, 1982)

With Buddy Collette

• Man of Many Parts (Contemporary, 1956)
• Jazz Loves Paris (Speciality, 1958)

With Maynard Ferguson

• Maynard Ferguson Octet (EmArcy, 1955)

With Dizzy Gillespie

• The New Continent (Limelight, 1962)

With Paul Horn

• Plenty of Horn (Dot, 1958)
• Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts (RCA Victor, 1965) with Lalo Schifrin

With B.B. King

• Singin' the Blues (Crown, 1956)

External links

• Red Callender at AllMusic
• Red Callender discography at Discogs
• Red Callender at the Internet Movie Database