Albany Leon Bigard. profile

American jazz clarinetist, tenor & alto saxophonist, & composer.
Bigard studied clarinet as a youth in New Orleans with Papa Tio & Lorenzo Tio, He first became known as a tenor saxophonist. After playing in several groups in his hometown, he moved to Chicago where he played with King Oliver from 1925 until 1927. Chicago also found him working with such greats as Jelly Roll Morton, Johnny Dodds & Louis Armstrong. By the end of 1927 he found his place with Duke Ellington And His Orchestra, playing almost exclusively as a clarinetist. Between 1927 & 1942 as a member of The Ellington Orchestra, he was featured on many of Ellington's classic recordings. "Mood Indigo" which Bigard co-composed, was perhaps the most successful of his compostions. His later work was varied and included membership between 1947 & 1955 with Louis Armstrong And His All-Stars.
- born March 03, 1906 in New Orleans, Louisiana
- died June 27, 1980 in Culver City, California