Wilbur Harden
Born 1925, in Birmingham, Alabama

Now an obscure, semi-legenday figure, Wilbur Harden was one of the first to play jazz flugelhorn, and was a once-promising soloist and composer. He began playing professionally in the 1940s with R&B bands led by Roy Brown and Ivory Joe Williams. After playing with the U.S. Navy band, he moved to Detroit, where he replaced trombonist Curtis Fuller in Yusef Lateef's group in the spring of 1957. There, under the influence of Miles Davis's work with Gil Evans, HArden began playing the flugelhorn almost exclusively. He appeared on three albums with Lateef before recording with John Coltrane and leading his own sessions. Harden ceased playing in 1959 due to poor health, and has not recorded since. While his playing was lyrical and inventive, his sessions have remained in print largely due to the presence of players such as Coltrane and Tommy Flanagan

what to buy: Harden's potential as a composer is revealed on Mainstream 1958 -- The East Coast Jazz Scene (3-1/2 bones, Savoy, 1958, prod. Ozzie Cadena), including the standout Latin-esque "E.F.F.P.H." His smooth flugelhorn is well-complimented by the explosive tenor of John Coltrane and pianist Tommy Flanagan's bop solos.

The title track on Tanganyika Strut (3-1/2 bones, 1958/1993, prod. Ozzie Cadena) chugs along at a bluesy medium tempo (somewhat reminiscent of Coltrane's "Blue Train") with nicely understated solos from Harden, trombonist Curtis Fuller and Tommy Flanagan. Noteworthy is Harden's beautiful lead on the ballad "Once in a While."

the rest:
Jazz Way Out (3-1/2 bones, Savoy, 1958/1992)
The King and I (3 bones, Savoy, 1958/1993)

worth searching for: As a sideman with Coltrane, Harden plays some of his best solos on The Stardust Sessions (4 bones, Prestide, 1975, prod. Bob Weinstock, Ralph Kaffel). Of particular interest is his economical phrasing on "I'm a Dreamer Aren't We All" and his bright trumpet solo on the upbeat "Spring Is Here."

influences:
<-- Miles Davis, Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown

Jeff Samoray and Nancy Ann Lee