ABSTRACT
American jazz clarinetist, born in New Orleans as Albany Barney Leon Bigard. He started as a saxophone player, working in New Orleans and from 1925 in the Chicago area. He joined King Oliver and began to emphasize clarinet, developing a particularly liquid tone and a vivid low register. In 1927 he entered into a 15-year association with Duke Ellington, and made outstanding records like “Mood Indigo”—his own composition-(Brunswick 4952; 1930), and “Clarinet Lament”—a work written for him by Ellington, said to be first jazz concerto for solo instrument and orchestra-(Brunswick 7650; 1936). Leaving Ellington in 1942, he freelanced, then became one of the Louis Armstrong All-Stars (1947-1952, 1953-1955, 1960-1961) making a world tour and recording notable discs of “Tea for Two” (Decca 9-28099/28100; 1947), “C-Jam Blues” (Decca 9-28102; 1947), and “Just You, Just Me” (Decca 9-28175; 1951). He moved to Los Angeles in 1956, playing with his own ensemble, and from 1969 giving lectures on jazz to university students. He continued performing through the 1970s, in Europe and America. Bigard died in Culver City, California.
