A Swing era star during the 1930s, vibraphonist-bandleader Red Norvo fronted an all- star aggregation at the 1967 Newport Jazz Festival that featured trumpeter Ruby Braff and pianist Billy Taylor, along with the rhythm tandem of bassist Jack Lesberg and drummer Don Lamond. They open with an ebullient, briskly swinging rendition of Earl Hines’ “Rosetta” that showcases Norvo’s chops and Braff’s Armstrong-inspired cadences on the trumpet. The two engage in some conversational exchanges midway through this popular 1930s jam vehicle, then Norvo goes toe-to-toe with drummer Lamond in some bristling call-and-response before giving the floor to Lesberg. who turns in a surging bass solo. Shifting gears, they next head into a mellow, midtempo reading of Louis Armstrong’s theme song, “When It’s Sleepy Time Down South,” which is underscored by Lamond’s supple brushwork. Norvo’s cascading solo here shows a level of technical virtuosity on the instrument that surpasses the great Lionel Hampton and paved the way for such vibes innovators as Milt Jackson, Bobby Hutcherson and Gary Burton, who all followed in his wake. Braff follows with a solo that is less about technical virtuosity and more about feeling. Then comes Taylor, who turns in a piano solo that shows precisely why he was so highly touted by his mentor, the great Art Tatum. And they finish with a flurry of simultaneous expression, in the grand tradition of early New Orleans music. They conclude their 1967 Newport Jazz Festival set with a lively reading of the age- old jam, “Sweet Georgia Brown.” Norvo is particularly frisky on his solo here and Braff once again digs deep into his Armstrong bag for a vibrant trumpet solo while Taylor follows with some Tatumesque burn on the keys. After some slick trading of eights with drummer Lamond, they bring this old workhorse to a frantic conclusion.

Born Kenneth Norville on March 31, 1908 in Beardstown, Illinois, he formed his first band, The Collegians, in 1925. He later played in big bands led by Paul Whiteman and Charlie Barnet and recorded with singers like his wife Mildred Bailey (they were known as “Mr. and Mrs. Swing”) and Billie Holiday. Norvo led his own orchestra from 1936 to

1943, then joined the Benny Goodman Sextet in 1944 and subsequently played in Woody Herman’s Thundering Herd in 1946. In 1949, he formed an innovative trio that included guitarist Mundell Lowe and bassist Red Kelly. Subsequent editions of the trio featured guitar great Tal Farlow and a young Charles Mingus on bass, then guitarist Jimmy Raney and bassist Red Mitchell. Norvo’s quintet had an onscreen appearance in the 1960 film Oceans 11 (produced by Sinatra) backing Dean Martin on a version of “Ain’t That a Kick in the Head.” He worked with the Newport All-Stars in the mid ‘60s and remained active through the mid 1980s, when he was sidelined by a stroke. He died on April 6, 1999, at the age of 91. – Bill Milkowski

Red Norvo – vibraphone; Ruby Braff – trumpet; Billy Taylor – piano; Jack Lesberg – bass; Don Lamond – drums