I am indebted to Leif Bo Petersen for compiling this chronology.
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YEAR |
DATE | EVENT |
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1923 |
Sept 24 | Theodore "Fats" Navarro is born in Key West, Florida. Mixed ethnic background (Cuban, Chinese, Black). The family is not well off financially. The father is a barber and a amateur pianist. Fats is third cousin to Charlie Shavers, who was born six years earlier. |
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1929 |
Starts playing piano at age six. | |
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1936 |
Starts playing trumpet at thirteen. | |
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1939 |
Walter Johnson Band. Fats Navarro plays tenor sax with Walter Johnson Band in Miami on holidays. | |
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1941 |
Graduated from Fredrick Douglass High School in Key West, FL.
After high school, he concentrate on his music. He establishes a friendship with Idrees Sulieman (nee Leonard Graham). They both admire and learn Dud Bascomb's solos from Erskins Hawkins recordings. They leave Florida about the same time. Joins the Sol Allbrigth Band in Orlando. He travels with Allbright to Cincinnati. Here he studies trumpet with an Ohio teacher. Moves to Indianapolis to go on the road with Snookum Russell's Indianapolis-based orchestra. In Snookum Russell's band Navarro played Bascombs solos. He becomes a friend of J.J. Johnson in Russell's Band. His weight and appetite give him the nickname "Fats". |
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1942 |
March | J.J. Johnson joins Russell's Band. He and Navarro become friends. |
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Early Oct. | Russell disbands. J.J. Johnson leaves Russell. |
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1943 |
October? |
Leaves Snookum Russell and joins Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Here
he meets Howard McGhee and is influenced in modern direction. He
hangs out with Ed Loving, baritone sax, of the Kirk band and jams
at Minton's in Harlem in New York City when the band is in town.
Makes first recorded appearance. It's a radio broadcast of the AFRS (Navy) recording, NYC (recordings exist). Fats does not solo. |
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Nov. 19 | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Engagement at The Apollo Theatre, NYC. Nov. 19 - Nov. 25. |
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December | Navarro engagement at Kelly's Stable with Clark Monroe Combo including Bud Powell. |
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Dec. 3 | Makes first studio records with the Kirk band for Decca in New York City (recordings exist). First recorded solo by Navarro on Shorty Boo. |
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1944 |
Jan. 2 | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Coca Cola and AFRS Spotlight Show. Newcastle Army Air Base, Wilmington, Delaware. (recordings exist). |
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February | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Engagement at the Plantation Club, LA. (February and March?) |
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February? | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Recordings for AFRS "Jubilee" Hollywood, LA. (recordings exist). |
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April | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Touring cross-country back to the East with via Salt Lake City and Chicago. |
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June 2 | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Engagement at The Apollo Theatre, NYC. June 2 - June 8. |
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June 7 | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Broadcast Station WMCA from the Apollo. (recordings exist). |
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June 9 | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Engagement at the Howard Theater, Washington. June 9 - June 15. |
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June 16 | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Engagement at the Royal Theater, Baltimore. June 16 - June 28. Howard McGhee leaves Kirk after the band had finished the engagement. |
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July? | Miles Davis meets Navarro in St. Louis in the summer. |
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Sept. 29 | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Engagement at The Apollo Theatre, NYC September 29 - October 2. |
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September? | Miles Davis jams with Fats Navarro at Minton's just after his arrival in NYC September 1944. Davis is hanging out with Navarro, Freddie Webster, Max Roach and J.J. Johnson. |
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Late Oct. | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Engagement at the Louisiana Club, Washington, D.C. On Dizzy Gillespie's recommendation, Billy Eckstine listens to Navarro, in order to find a replacement for Gillespie, who plans to leave the Eckstine Band. |
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Dec. 19 | Andy Kirk And His Orchestra. Recording for Decca, NYC. (recordings exist). |
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1945 |
January | Navarro joins the Eckstine Band. |
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February | Eckstine Band has engagement at the Club Plantation, LA, opposite Billie Holiday. Broadcasts for the Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS "Jubilee") including Sarah Vaughan and Lena Horne. (recordings exist). |
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April? | Billy Eckstine Orchestra. After LA, the band has an engagement in Baltimore. |
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May 2 | Eckstine Band records in New York City for National. |
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June | Eckstine Band celebrates its first anniversary in South Carolina. |
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July | Navarro may have participated for a short time in Gillespie's first big band. |
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Sept. 4 | Eckstine Band records for National in New York City. |
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Oct. 3 | Eckstine Band records for National in New York City. Navarro solos on Long Long Journey. |
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1946 |
Navarro settles in New York City. He plays on 52nd Street and at Minton's. | |
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Jan. 3 | Records with Kirk Band for Decca in New York City. |
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February | Eckstine Band records for National in New York City. Navarro solos on Tell Me Pretty Baby. |
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May 12 | Participates in "Re Bop Jam Session" (Producers: Monte Kay & Symphony Sid; New Jazz foundation) Lincoln Square Center 12-3pm, NYC. Personnel: Red Rodney (tp), J.J. Johnson (tb), Charlie Ventura (ts), Sonny Stitt (as), Dexter Gordon (ts), Sarah Vaughn (voc), Billy Eckstine (voc) with Fats Navarro (tp), Gene Ammons (ts), Leo Parker (bs), Red Garland (p), Bill McMahon (b), Art Blakey (d). (I have found no recordings). |
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June |
Billy Eckstine And His Orchestra. Engagement Royal, Baltimore.
Closing June 6.
Fats Navarro leaves Eckstine when the band leaves for California. He stays in NYC in order to get a union card. Eckstine opens in Oakland July 31. Somewhere around this time (after leaving Eckstine) he begins to use hard drugs. |
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July? | On a one-nighter in Philadelphia Navarro plays with Clifford Brown, then 17 year old, and a rhythm group in a club. The incident is reported by Benny Golson, who tells that Navarro was impressed by Brown's playing. |
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Sept. 5 | Kenny Clarke and His 52nd Street Boys. NYC. Recordings for Victor (French Swing). Producer: Charles Delauney. |
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Sept. 6 | Fats Navarro and Gil Fuller's Modernists (The Be Bop Boys). NYC. Recordings for Savoy. |
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Autume | May have played in Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis's band, which was house-band at Minton's. Is reported jamming at Minton's in this period. |
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December | Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra. NYC. Recordings for Sonora. |
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Dec. 18 | Eddie Davis and His Reboppers. NYC. Recordings for Savoy. |
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Dec. 20 | Eddie Davis and His Reboppers. NYC. Recordings for Savoy. |
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1947 |
Tommy Reynolds Orchestra. Fats Navarro plays for a short time with
Tommy Reynolds in 1947. Have no details.
Illinois Jacquet. Navarro plays a couple of months (?) with Jacquet's band including an engagement at Spotlite where Miles Davis is participating. J.J. Johnson is in the band too. |
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Jan. 7 | Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra. Recordings for Aladdin in NYC. |
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Jan. 16 | Fats Navarro and His Thin Men. Recordings for Savoy in NYC. |
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Feb. 18 | Milton Buggs, Billy Stewart accompanied by Ray Abrams Orchestra. Recordings for Savoy in NYC. |
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April |
May have rehearsed with Gillespie's big band.
Charlie Parker Quintet. From April Fats Navarro is often sitting in with Charlie Parker at the Three Deuces. Many people are of the opinion that Navarro should have had Miles Davis's chair in the band. |
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April 1 | Illinois Jacquet and His Orchestra. Recordings for Aladdin. NYC. |
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April 12 | WNEW Saturday Night Swing Session broadcast from NYC studios before a live audience. Personnel: Fats Navarro (tp), Bill Harris (tb), Charlie Ventura, Allan Eager (ts), Al Valente (g), Ralph Burns (p), Chubby Jackson (b), Buddy Rich (d). (recordings exist). |
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May 5 | JATP. Monday night concert at Carnegie Hall, NYC. Personnel: Buck Clayton, Fats Navarro (tp), Kai Winding (tb), Charlie Parker, Willie Smith (as), Coleman Hawkins, Flip Philips, (ts), Harry Carney (bs), Kenny Kersey, Lennie Tristano, Hank Jones (p), Oscar Pettiford, Eddie Safranski (b), Alvin Stoller, Buddy Rich (d), Helen Humes (vcl). (I have found no recordings documenting Navarro's participation. But recordings of other parts of the concert exists). |
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August |
Concert. Lincoln Garden Center. Mentioned by Miles Davis (second half of 1947). Personnel (partial): Fats Navarro, Miles Davis, Red Rodney, Freddie Webster (tp), Ben Webster, Dexter Gordon (ts), Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker (as), Bud Powell (p), Art Blakey, Kenny Clarke, Max Roach (d). (I have found no recordings). | |
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September |
Kay Penton accompanied by Tadd Dameron And His Group. NYC. Recording for V-Disc. | |
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Sept. 26 | Tadd Dameron Sextet. NYC WOR Studies. Recording for Blue Note. Now generally considered to be one of the great sessions of the Bop era. |
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Oct. 28 | Tadd Dameron And His Band NYC. Recording for Savoy. |
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Nov. 8 | Barry Ulanov and his All Star Metronome Jazzmen NYC. Mutual Studios. Broadcast Station WOR US Treasury. Radio Broadcast for Mutual (recordings exist). |
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Dec. 5 | Fats Navarro and his band NYC. Recordings for Savoy. |
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Dec. 11 | Coleman Hawkins and His Orchestra. NYC. Recordings for Victor. |
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Dec. 22 | Dexter Gordon & His Boys. NYC. Recordings for Savoy. |
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Dec. 26 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement at Regal, Chicago. December 26 - January 1. Navarro joins Hampton here or a little later |
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Dec. 31 | Navarro number 18 on trumpet in Down Beat's Reader's Poll. |
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1948 |
Winter | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Navarro plays three months (?) with Hampton. He meets the orchestra in NYC. Next day there are rehearsals in Palace Theatre, Washington. The orchestra stays one week in Washington, D.C. and after they go on the road. (30-40 one-nighters). Navarro meets Charlie Mingus who is also with the band. |
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Jan. 6 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement Tune Town, St. Louis. January 6 - January 12. |
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Jan. 16 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement at Strand, NYC. January 16 - February 12 |
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Feb. 27 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement "State" Hartford, Conn. February 27 - February 29. |
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March 11 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement at RKO, Boston. March 11 - March 17. |
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March 22 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement at Palace, Columbus, Ohio. March 22 - March 24. |
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March 26 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement Paradise, Detroit. March 26 - April 1. |
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April 10 |
Hampton begins a series of Saturday afternoon broadcasts on
the Mutual Network starting April 10, at 3 p.m.?
Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. 11:30 p.m. (delayed until after midnight). Concert Carnegie Hall, NYC (recordings exist). |
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April 13 | Navarro participates in Royal Roost Concert (first Royal Roost concert). |
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April 15 |
Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Adam Theatre, Newark, NJ Broadcasts
April 15 - April 21.
Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Adam Theatre, Newark, NJ Broadcasts of April 17. (recordings exist). |
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April 23 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement at Howard Theatre, Washington DC. April 23 - April 29. |
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April 24 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Howard Theatre, Washington DC. Broadcasts (recordings exist). There may be a recording from April 24 or 25 too. |
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April 30 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement at Royal Theatre, Baltimore. April 30? - May 6. |
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May 1 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Howard Theatre, Washington, D.C., Broadcast (recordings exist). |
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May 8 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Portsmouth, Broadcasts (recordings exist). |
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May 23 | Lionel Hampton And His Orchestra. Engagement Civic Opera, Chicago. Navarro seems to have left Hampton in Chicago. |
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August |
Monte Kay opens Royal Roost for bop First Tuesday Concert
(producers: Monte Kay & Symphony Sid): Fats Navarro, Miles Davis,
Charlie Parker, Tadd Dameron, Dexter Gordon. (I have found no
recordings).
Tadd Dameron Quintet. Engagement at Royal Roost, NYC, from August and for about 39 weeks. (I think Fats Navarro leaves about the end of October). Tadd Dameron Quintet/Sextet. Engagement at Royal Roost, NYC, August 27 - September 8. |
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Aug. 29 | Tadd Dameron Quintet. Broadcast Royal Roost, NYC. (recordings exist). |
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Sept. 4 | Tadd Dameron Quintet. Broadcast Royal Roost, NYC. (recordings exist). |
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Sept. 9 | Benny Goodman Septet with Wardell Gray. Recordings for Capitol, NYC. This session also is a rehearsal for a new Benny Goodman group, including Navarro, that aborts as Mary Lou Williams leaves the group during rehearsals. |
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Sept. 30 |
Tadd Dameron Septet. NYC, Recordings for Blue Note.
Tadd Dameron Sextet. Engagement at Royal Roost, NYC, September 30 - October 27? |
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October |
Benny Goodman And His Orchestra: Chico O'Farrill had the job of making a "book" for a new Goodman big band which Goodman began to gather in October. Chico O'Farrill tells: I met Fats Navarro. He was very much a mentor to me. Fats was supposed to join Benny Goodman's Band. But was fired after coming late to rehearsal three times. Other involved arrangers: Tadd Dameron, Gerry Mulligan and Gil Evans. Goodman was impressed by Davis' Nonet. | |
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Oct. 2 | Tadd Dameron Quintet. Broadcast Royal Roost, NYC. (recordings exist). |
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Oct. 4 | Tadd Dameron Quintet. Broadcast Royal Roost, NYC. (recordings exist). |
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Oct. 9 | Tadd Dameron Quintet. Broadcast Royal Roost, NYC. (recordings exist). |
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Oct. 10 | Monte Kay Presents Symphony Sid's Bop Concert. Royal Roost, NYC, 4-8pm. Personnel: Fats Navarro (tp), James Moody (ts), Allen Eager, Dexter Gordon (ts), Cecil Payne (bs), Milt Jackson (vib), Tadd Dameron, Al Haig (p), Tommy Potter (b), Max Roach, Art Blakey (d), Chano Pozo (congos). (I have found no recordings). |
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Oct. 11 | McGhee-Navarro Boptet. Apex Studios, NYC, Recordings for Blue Note. |
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Oct. 16 | Tadd Dameron Septet. Broadcast Royal Roost, NYC. (recordings exist). |
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Oct. 23 | Tadd Dameron Septet. Broadcast Royal Roost, NYC. (recordings exist). |
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November |
Don Lanphere tells: I lived with Chan Richardson (later common-law wife of Charlie Parker) at 7 West 52nd. Fats Navarro and Bird came there. Navarro was taking me around, and introduced me to people. We played a few times together. | |
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Nov. 7 | Concert. Civic Opera House, Chicago. Personnel (partial): Al Benson (DJ), Billie Holiday, Gene Ammons, Tom Archia, Charlie Ventura, Bennie Green, Ed Shaughnessy, Miles Davis, Allen Eager, Fats Navarro, Max Roach, Dolores Bell, Jackie Paris. (I have found no recordings). |
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Nov. 22 | Concert. Milwaukee. Personnel (partial): Billie Holiday, Gene Ammons, Miles Davis, Fats Navarro, Max Roach, Jackie Paris. (I have found no recordings). |
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Nov. 29 | Earl Coleman And His All Stars, Fats Navarro Quintet. WOR Studios, Broadway and 38th Street, NYC. Recordings for Dial. |
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Dec. 23 | Christmas Show at The Clique, NYC. Personnel: Fats Navarro (tp), Kai Winding (tb), Lucky Thompson, Dexter Gordon (ts), Milt Jackson (vbs), Bud Powell (p), Oscar Pettiford (b), Kenny Clarke (d). Miles Davis joins when he leaves Charlie Parker Quintet. Engagement may have run to January 24. (I have found no recordings). |
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Dec. 29 | Fats Navarro number 13 on trumpet in Down Beat Reader's Poll. |
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1949 |
January | Howard McGhee Band? Fats Navarro plays in Howard McGhee Band including Percy Heath (may have been earlier). |
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Jan. 3 | Metronome All Stars. Recordings for Victor, NYC. |
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Jan. 18 | Tadd Dameron And His Orchestra/Big Ten. Recordings for Capitol. |
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Feb. 11 |
JATP Tour. Personnel: Fats Navarro (tp), Tommy Turk (tb), Charlie Parker,
Sonny Criss (as), Coleman Hawkins, Flip Philips (ts), Hank Jones (p),
Ray Brown (b), Buddy Rich (d), Ella Fitzgerald (vcl).
Carnegie Hall, NYC. JATP troop, Machito, Charlie Parker. (Unissued recordings exist). |
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Feb. 12 | JATP Tour. Academy of Music. Philadelphia. (I have found no recordings). |
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Feb. 13 | JATP Tour. Symphony Hall, Boston. (I have found no recordings). |
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Feb. 20 | JATP Tour. Kleinhans's, Buffalo. (I have found no recordings). |
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Feb. 21 | JATP Tour. Massey Hall, Toronto. (I have found no recordings). |
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Feb. 25 | JATP Tour. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan. (I have found no recordings). |
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Feb. 26 | JATP Tour. Masonic Hall, Detroit. (I have found no recordings). |
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Feb. 27 | JATP Tour. Memorial Hall, Columbus, Ohio. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 4 | JATP Tour. Syria Mosque, Pittsburgh. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 5 | JATP Tour. Taft Theater, Cincinnati. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 6 | JATP Tour. Public Music Hall, Columbus. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 11 | JATP Tour. Pabst Theater, Milwaukee. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 12 | JATP Tour. KRNT Theater, Des Moines. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 13 | JATP Tour. Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 15 | JATP Tour. High School Auditorium (South High?), Salt Lake City. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 17 | JATP Tour. Civic Auditorium, San Francisco. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 20 | JATP Tour. Auditorium Theater, Oakland. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 23 | JATP Tour. Municipal Auditorium, Denver. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 25 | JATP Tour. Chicago Civil Opera House. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 26 | JATP Tour. Mosque (Theater), Newark. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 27 | JATP Tour. Washington, D.C. (I have found no recordings). |
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March 30 | JATP Tour. Brooklyn Academy of Music. (I have found no recordings). The tour ends in NYC. |
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April |
Three Deuces, NYC. Sextet, including: J.J. Johnson, Fats Navarro, Stan Getz. | |
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June |
Miles Davis tells: Fats is taking heroin and cocaine at this time together with Sonny Rollins, Walter Bishop, Jr., Jackie McLean and Philly Joe Jones in Navarro's flat at Cambridge Hotel, 110th Street and in Bishop's house. | |
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July |
Max Roach Quintet feat. Fats Navarro. Engagement Cameo
Room, Mercantile Hall, Philadelphia opposite Clifford Brown.
(Photo by Charlie Chisholm exists).
Three Deuces re-opens for jazz. Navarro and Bud Powell participates in several jam sessions organized by Leonard Feather on Tuesday nights. |
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August |
Engagement at Three Deuces, NYC. Personnel: Miles Davis, Fats Navarro (tp), Kai Winding (tb), Lucky Thompson, Dexter Gordon (ts), Milt Jackson (vbs), Bud Powell (p), Oscar Pettiford (b), Kenny Clarke (d). | |
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Aug. 8 | Bud Powell's Modernists/Trio. Recordings for Blue Note. |
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September |
Sept. 1? | J.J. Johnson's Boptet. Fats Navarro (tp), J.J. Johnson (tb), Stan Getz (ts), John Lewis (p), Curly Russell (b), Max Roach (dr) Engagement Three Deuces, NYC, September 1? - October 5? |
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Sept. 20 | Fats Navarro Quintet. NYC. Recordings for Prestige (New Jazz). |
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December |
Dec. 30 | Fats Navarro number 4 on trumpet in Down Beat Reader's Poll. |
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1950 |
Miles Davis tells: Fats Navarro was now a real bad junkie. His wife
Lena worried. They had a daughter named Linda. He was skin and
bones... I and Benny Harris shot up with him.
Horace Silver: "and I saw him (Bud Powell) at Birdland working with Coleman Hawkins and his group. The group had Hawk on tenor, Fats Navarro on trumpet, J.J. Johnson on trombone, Curley Russell on bass, Art Blakey on drums and Bud on piano. What a dynamite band" |
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1950 |
May |
Engagement at Birdland most of May with Charlie Parker and the
Bud Powell Trio.
"Birdland Dream Band" ("Dizzy Gillespie's Dream Band", "Symphony Sid's Dream Band"). Personnel: Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Fats Navarro, Kenny Dorham, Red Rodney (tp), J.J. Johnson, Kai Winding, Benny Green (tb), Lee Konitz (as), Gerry Mulligan (bar), Billy Taylor (p), Al McKibbon (b), Art Blakey (d). They play from Gillespie's book. (I have found no recordings). |
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1950 |
May 16 | Birdland All Stars. Personnel: Miles Davis, Fats Navarro (tp), J.J. Johnson (tb), Charlie Parker (as), Brew Moore (ts), Tadd Dameron (p), Walther Bishop, Jr.(p), Curley Russell (b), Art Blakey (dr), Master of ceremonies Pee Wee Marquette. Birdland, 1678 Broadway, NYC. (recordings exist). (This session has been dated in many different ways. Lohman dates it as 30-Jun, a week before Navarro's death. Vail dates it as 17-May. The date is really a jam session at Birdland, and as Monday was jam session day, I would suggest Monday, May 16 or Monday, May 30. From Monday, May 23 there exists recordings with Parker and other musicians. |
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May 17 | Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro and the Bud Powell Trio. Birdland, NYC, WJZ radio broadcast. (recordings exist). |
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May 18 | Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro and the Bud Powell Trio. Birdland, NYC, WJZ radio broadcast. (recordings exist). |
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May 20 | Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro and the Bud Powell Trio. Birdland, NYC, WJZ radio broadcast. (recordings exist). |
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May 21 | Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro and the Bud Powell Trio. Birdland, NYC, WJZ radio broadcast. (recordings exist). |
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July 6 | Fats Navarro dies at Bellevue Hospital, NYC. |
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July 13 | Fats Navarro's funeral takes place at the LeRoy Butler Funeral Home on 177 West 126th Street in NYC. Charlie Parker attends. He is buried in Rose Hill Cemetery in Linden, New Jersey. |