Eddie Durham Articles

Written and arranged by Eddie Durham, one of the most important and underappreciated artists in jazz and American music history.

Irish and Mexican on his father’s side, Native American and Afro-American on his mother’s, in his childhood Durham grew up wearing his hair long and braided, Native American-style.

I discovered Eddie Durham one night not long ago, as I tuned up my radio to the marvelously pedantic Phil Schaap on WKCR-FM. Phil was playing the legendary “Kansas City Six” (and “Five”) sessions from 1938, fourteen small-combo cuts featuring Basie alumni, produced by John Hammond for Milt Gabler’s unprofitable, idealistic Commodore label.

Eddie Durham, a jazz trombonist and electric guitarist who played and composed for the Jimmie Lunceford and Count Basie Orchestras in the 1930's, died yesterday as a result of a fall at his daughter's house in Brooklyn. He was 80 years old and lived in Manhattan.