Bennie Green

Trombone · born 16 April 1923 – died 23 March 1977

▸ Click for Richard Cook Bio

Green joined the Earl Hines band in 1942 and stayed, aside from military service, until 1948, joining a second time in 1951. In the 50s and 60s he mostly led small groups of his own, and though he turned up in hard-bop situations for Blue Note (three albums as leader) and Prestige (a further three), he never sounds as if that was his favoured dialect, and his sound is more in the heartier swing tradition. He was with Duke Ellington for a brief spell at the end of the 60s but thereafter played mostly in Las Vegas bands. Bennie is affectionately remembered by collectors of the period, though none of his records has ever reached much of a wider audience.

Biography from Richard Cook's Jazz Encyclopedia (2005).

If you'd like more information, check out The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz (2002) or The Biographical Encyclopedia of Jazz (2007), both of which are still in print.

As leader

  • J.J. Johnson / Kai Winding / Bennie Green – Trombone By ThreeJ.J. Johnson / Kai Winding / Bennie Green – Trombone By Three
  • Kai and Jay / Bennie Green – With StringsKai and Jay / Bennie Green – With Strings
  • Bennie Green – With Art FarmerBennie Green – With Art Farmer
  • Bennie Green – Walking DownBennie Green – Walking Down
  • Bennie Green – Blows His HornBennie Green – Blows His Horn
  • Bennie Green – Back on the SceneBennie Green – Back on the Scene
  • Bennie Green – Soul Stirrin’Bennie Green – Soul Stirrin’
  • Bennie Green – Walkin’ and TalkinBennie Green – Walkin’ and Talkin

Plays on

  • Buck Clayton – Jumpin’ at the WoodsideBuck Clayton – Jumpin’ at the Woodside
  • Miles Davis – Miles Davis and HornsMiles Davis – Miles Davis and Horns
  • Jo Jones – Jo Jones SpecialJo Jones – Jo Jones Special

Mentioned in text

  • Elmo Hope Sextet – Informal JazzElmo Hope Sextet – Informal Jazz
  • Billy Taylor Trio – With CándidoBilly Taylor Trio – With Cándido
  • Billy Taylor – Introduces Ira SullivanBilly Taylor – Introduces Ira Sullivan
  • Johnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny GriffinJohnny Griffin – Introducing Johnny Griffin
  • Teddy Charles – EvolutionTeddy Charles – Evolution
  • Curtis Fuller – New TromboneCurtis Fuller – New Trombone
  • Prestige Jazz Quartet – Prestige Jazz QuartetPrestige Jazz Quartet – Prestige Jazz Quartet
  • Gene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi FiGene Ammons – Jammin’ In Hi Fi
  • Idrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 TenorsIdrees Sulieman / Webster Young / John Coltrane / Bobby Jaspar – Interplay for 2 Trumpets and 2 Tenors
  • Art Taylor – Taylor’s WailersArt Taylor – Taylor’s Wailers
  • Matthew Gee – Jazz by GeeMatthew Gee – Jazz by Gee
  • Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis – CookbookEddie “Lockjaw” Davis – Cookbook
  • Tiny Grimes & J.C. Higginbotham – Callin’ The BluesTiny Grimes & J.C. Higginbotham – Callin’ The Blues
  • Prestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of TownPrestige Blues-Swingers – Outskirts of Town
  • Charles Mingus – Mingus Ah UmCharles Mingus – Mingus Ah Um
  • Curtis Fuller – Soul TromboneCurtis Fuller – Soul Trombone