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One of the more adventurous trombonists of the swing era, the distinctive Dicky Wells was somewhat innovative, playing his horn in a speech-like style filled with a great deal of color, humor, and swing. Although he came to fame with <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Count Basie</a> in 1938, Wells had been a major-league player for a decade before that. After moving to New York in 1926, he recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:0yO6uTEc4R5ORLojMgfVj8">Cecil Scott</a> (to hilarious effect on "In a Corner") and <a href="spotify:artist:3mYvpXDfTcpsalfsPuY00L">Spike Hughes</a>, in addition to working with <a href="spotify:artist:2ovJLSejirvJybNers2YG6">Fletcher Henderson</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:5dlCVmfRbWVGOJYHzGyk32">Benny Carter</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6RcS0R1ApjQDjEnMMMeoVa">Teddy Hill</a>; during a European tour with <a href="spotify:artist:6RcS0R1ApjQDjEnMMMeoVa">Hill</a> he recorded extensively. The <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> years (1938-1945 and 1947-1950) gave him some fame and his playing behind singer <a href="spotify:artist:5oSx3uh0EaLA2xEywrMsCX">Jimmy Rushing</a> was particularly memorable. His later years were somewhat anti-climatic but there were engagements with <a href="spotify:artist:5oSx3uh0EaLA2xEywrMsCX">Rushing</a>, reunions with <a href="spotify:artist:2jFZlvIea42ZvcCw4OeEdA">Basie</a> sidemen, European tours with <a href="spotify:artist:1rQ8RuN5MY5dBeBz81fIho">Buck Clayton</a>, a stint (1961-1963) with <a href="spotify:artist:1eYhYunlNJlDoQhtYBvPsi">Ray Charles</a>, and occasional appearances (including on the classic TV special The Sound of Jazz in 1957). After about 1965, Wells' alcoholism and declining musicianship forced him to get a day job as a messenger, although he did write his memoirs (The Night People) and he came back for a final album in 1981. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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