Marty Napoleon

The nephew of trumpeter <a href="spotify:artist:3m3V2wqHYlRDHDNGFbIXb5">Phil Napoleon</a> and the younger brother of fellow pianist Teddy Napoleon, Marty Napoleon gained his greatest fame playing with Louis Armstrong's All-Stars during two stints. Napoleon was a pretty versatile player whose style generally fell between swing and bop. Originally a trumpeter, heart troubles caused him to switch to piano. Napoleon picked up early experience playing with the big bands of Chico Marx, <a href="spotify:artist:7rOldyBQnbp9DtBGoKEiwl">Joe Venuti</a>, Lee Castle, <a href="spotify:artist:4SPws2VXOmZIiRTp75mzsb">Charlie Barnet</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2YODXXiVE8ABc0TfihLOFj">Gene Krupa</a> (1945). Napoleon worked with his uncle's Memphis Five in the early '50s, was part of <a href="spotify:artist:6ivz1LSbG04pV8AQUFaY53">Charlie Ventura</a>'s Big Four, and was with <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a> from 1952-1953. In addition to having a two-piano quartet with brother Teddy in 1955, working with <a href="spotify:artist:0JM134st8VY7Ld9T2wQiH0">Coleman Hawkins</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:1yOf0GbMOo9zdD2FF0rUoK">Charlie Shavers</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1kEniOVLhKw78gS0myngEf">Red Allen</a>, and freelancing, Napoleon frequently led his own trios. He rejoined <a href="spotify:artist:19eLuQmk9aCobbVDHc6eek">Louis Armstrong</a> during the trumpeter's twilight years (1966-1968 and on and off in 1968-1971) and semi-retired in the 1980s. Napoleon led precious few record sessions, just a few dates in the '50s and then, nearly 55 years later, 2012's Swingin' at 90. He died in April 2015 at the age of 93. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi