Kai Winding

One of the finest trombonists to emerge from the bebop era, Kai Winding was always to an extent overshadowed by <a href="spotify:artist:3hZ5sdhYTvgrmXIwtVwqmS">J.J. Johnson</a>, although they co-led one of the most popular jazz groups of the mid-'50s. Born in Denmark, Winding emigrated to the U.S. with his family when he was 12. He had short stints with the orchestras of <a href="spotify:artist:35hCHSRgl0dhCYfgGb4bwV">Alvino Rey</a> and Sonny Dunham, and played in a service band in the Coast Guard for three years. Winding's first burst of fame occurred during his year with <a href="spotify:artist:27hSR8e34ZM5vj5fUFixyb">Stan Kenton's Orchestra</a> (1946-1947), during which his phrasing influenced and was adopted by the other trombonists, leading to a permanent change in the <a href="spotify:artist:27hSR8e34ZM5vj5fUFixyb">Kenton</a> sound. He also participated in some early bop sessions, played with <a href="spotify:artist:4w8eKJO83kKgKRLbMKM2zB">Tadd Dameron</a> (1948-1949), and was on one of the <a href="spotify:artist:0kbYTNQb4Pb1rPbbaF0pT4">Miles Davis</a>' nonet's famous recording sessions. After playing with the big bands of <a href="spotify:artist:6ivz1LSbG04pV8AQUFaY53">Charlie Ventura</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1pBuKaLHJlIlqYxQQaflve">Benny Goodman</a>, he formed a quintet with <a href="spotify:artist:3hZ5sdhYTvgrmXIwtVwqmS">J.J. Johnson</a> (1954-1956); the two trombonists (who sounded nearly identical at the time) had occasional reunions after going their separate ways. Winding led a four-trombone septet off and on through the latter half of the 1950s and into the '60s, was music director for the Playboy clubs in New York, and during 1971-1972 worked with the Giants of Jazz (an all-star group with <a href="spotify:artist:5RzjqfPS0Bu4bUMkyNNDpn">Dizzy Gillespie</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:217b0uqAzsOOhGcnoANZqj">Sonny Stitt</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:4PDpGtF16XpqvXxsrFwQnN">Thelonious Monk</a>). Although he recorded frequently both as a leader and a sideman throughout his career, most of Winding's sessions are not currently available on CD. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi