Wellman Braud

One of the top string bassists of the 1920s, Wellman Braud was the first of the great <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington</a> bass players, a tradition that would later include <a href="spotify:artist:7FMFfF4dipm9bWnd4FAKDL">Jimmy Blanton</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3DuKJapiJ2AUvoIJq1ZJFb">Oscar Pettiford</a>, and even <a href="spotify:artist:1W8TbFzNS15VwsempfY12H">Charles Mingus</a>. Braud grew up playing music in New Orleans, occasionally switching to guitar or drums. By the time he moved to Chicago in 1917, Braud was strictly a bassist. He was with <a href="spotify:artist:2Ysm9GDVgNtFQvj6dGaGqQ">Charlie Elgar</a> (1920-1922) and toured Europe with Will Vodery's Plantation Revue before freelancing to New York. Braud became a key member of <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington's Orchestra</a> (1927-1935), and his well-recorded bass (his only close competitor on his instrument during the period was <a href="spotify:artist:3q5RamSyDTihkrw62UzDDb">Pops Foster</a>) really drove the band during their many records. After leaving <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Ellington</a>, Braud played with <a href="spotify:artist:3M5DfqyeRdwPHfkdslU87d">the Spirits of Rhythm</a> (1935-1937) before forming his own trio. He recorded with <a href="spotify:artist:4XepUkisa56DUeA3gbjDQD">Jelly Roll Morton</a> (1939-1940) and <a href="spotify:artist:1RsmXc1ZqW3WBs9iwxiSwk">Sidney Bechet</a> (1940-1941), but opened a poolroom in New York in 1940, and thereafter became a part-time player. Among his later musical experiences were reunions with <a href="spotify:artist:4F7Q5NV6h5TSwCainz8S5A">Duke Ellington</a> (1944 and 1961), and stints with <a href="spotify:artist:4HGHKAXQPnK1YyzGmIFkrp">Bunk Johnson</a> (1947) and <a href="spotify:artist:7fvNIXXszS6FTHROnZVsK4">Kid Ory's Creole Jazz Band</a> (1956). ~ Scott Yanow, Rovi