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An excellent altoist, Russell Procope became much better-known as a New Orleans-style clarinetist during his <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington</a> years. He studied violin for eight years before switching to clarinet and alto. Procope recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:4XepUkisa56DUeA3gbjDQD">Jelly Roll Morton</a> in 1928 and had important stints with the big bands of <a href="spotify:artist:5dlCVmfRbWVGOJYHzGyk32">Benny Carter</a> (1929), <a href="spotify:artist:7AgtFmxbJL1wDbp7yYrzQb">Chick Webb</a> (1929-1931), <a href="spotify:artist:2ovJLSejirvJybNers2YG6">Fletcher Henderson</a> (1931-1934), <a href="spotify:artist:70sHURBVOq2rwWkmBpDxYa">Tiny Bradshaw</a> (1934-1935), <a href="spotify:artist:6RcS0R1ApjQDjEnMMMeoVa">Teddy Hill</a> (1935-37), and Willie Bryant. However, it was as a member of the <a href="spotify:artist:35MId59wx5Xyn6zlxGOfJy">John Kirby</a> sextet (1938-1943) during which he exclusively played alto that Russell Procope did his finest work, playing brilliant solos with a distinctive tone that perfectly fit the music. After a period in the Army and a reunion with <a href="spotify:artist:35MId59wx5Xyn6zlxGOfJy">Kirby</a> (1945), Procope became a member of <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">the Duke Ellington Orchestra</a> in 1946, staying (except for a short period in 1961 with <a href="spotify:artist:2jHYUm5r73OV8CiKyMdYfo">Wilbur DeParis</a>) until <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Ellington</a>'s death 28 years later in 1974. Because of <a href="spotify:artist:7lRFrrINQTY35g8hq0kXY5">Johnny Hodges</a>' presence, Procope had very few alto solos, serving instead as a section player and occasional clarinet soloist whose warm tone contrasted with that of the cooler <a href="spotify:artist:2DyjqJKeLalliPzVY3jkiO">Jimmy Hamilton</a>; Procope was under-utilized but secure and happy during his <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Ellington</a> years. Later in the 1970s, he played with <a href="spotify:artist:4HPXFrgoK2kab4khz2NeE4">Brooks Kerr</a>'s group. ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi
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