Doc Cheatham

'Down in the Basement'   Doc Cheatham (soprano sax) backing Ma Rainey

  C 12 July 1926 in Chicago    Matrix 2627-1   Paramount 12395

Cornet: Homer Hobson   Trombone: Albert Wynn

Clarinet / alto sax: Tom Brown   Piano: Lil Henderson

Banjo: Rip Bassett   Drums: Ben Thigpen

Composition: Tiny Parham

'Minnie the Moocher'   Doc Cheatham (trumpet) backing Cab Calloway

  Betty Boop and Bimbo cartoon by Fleischer Studios   Released 11 March 1932

Composition: Cab Calloway / Irving Mills / Clarence Gaskill

'The Ghost of Smokey Joe'   Doc Cheatham (trumpet) backing Cab Calloway

  28 March 1939 in NYC   Matrix WM-1011-1   Vocalion 4807

Music: Rube Bloom    Lyrics: Ted Koehler

Cheatham seems to have recorded with swing master, Benny Goodman, only once, that on October 16, 1934, with two takes of 'Stars'. He would later contribute to a couple sessions in 1966, first as a member of Goodman's quintet for a radio broadcast for WNEW from the Rainbow Grill in NYC ('Indiana', 'Cheerful Little Earful', et al), then as a member of Goodman's sextet with young Herbie Hancock toward such as 'Avalon', Embraceable You', et al. In December of 1943 he began to record with Eddy Heywood's outfit which would lead to sessions with another huge name in jazz, Billy Holiday, in 1944.

'I Cover the Waterfront'   Doc Cheatham (trumpet) backing Billie Holiday

  25 March 1944 in NYC   Matrix A4745-2   Commodore 559A

Eddie Heywood (piano) and His Orchestra:

Trombone: Vic Dickenson   Alto sax: Lem Davis

Guitar: eddy Walters   Bass: John Simmons   Drums: Sidney Catlett

Music: Johnny Green    Lyrics: Eddie Heywood

After World War II Cheatham concentrated on Latin bands in New York City. Among highlights of his career in the fifties was his initial session as a leader in Paris on January 31, 1950, yielding such as 'Solitude' and 'Since I Fell for You' with vocalist, Eartha Kitt.

The first of numerous sessions with trombonist, Wilbur de Paris, arrived on April 2, 1955, to put down such as 'Mardi Gras Rag' and 'Milenberg Joys'. Their last recordings together were on November 17, 1960, for such as 'Over and Over Again' and 'Careless Love'.

Cheatham put away duets with pianist, Sammy Price, in 1958 in Paris: 'Lady Be Good', 'The Man I Love', et al. He would visit with Price again in 1988 for 'Doc Cheatham and Sammy Price in New Orleans with Lars Edegran's Jazz Band'.

'Embraceable You'   Doc Cheatham (trumpet) with Sammy Price (piano)

  Oct 1958 in Paris

See 'Sammy Price & Doc Cheatham Play George Gershwin' on Club du Disque J 142

Music: George Gershwin    Lyrics: Ira Gershwin

'Frankie and Johnny'   Doc Cheatham (trumpet) with Wilbur De Paris (trombone)

  Dec 1958 in NYC

See 'That's a Plenty' on Atlantic SD 1318

Cornet: Sidney De Paris    Clarinet: Omer Simeon

Piano: Sonny White    Guitar: John Smith

Bass: Hayes Alvis    Drums: Wilbert Kirk

Composition: Hughie Cannon   1904

'One O'Clock Jump'   Doc Cheatham (trumpet) with the Sammy Price (piano) Septet

  Television 1959

Trombone: Elmer Crumley / J.C. Higgimbotham

Alto sax: Eddie Barefield   Bass: Jimmy Lewis    Drums: J.C. Heard

Composition: Count Basie   1937

Cheatham formed his own band in 1960, running that for the next five years in New York City. Also highlighting the sixties were sessions with alto saxophonist, Capt. John Handy, in 1966 in New York City.

'Mr. Trumpet Man'   Doc Cheatham (trumpet) with Ricardo Ray (piano)