Occupation(s) Musician Associated acts Slam Stewart Role Jazz Pianist | Name Beryl Booker Instruments Piano | |
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Born June 7, 1922
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. ( 1922-06-07 ) Died September 30, 1978, Berkeley, California, United States Albums The Chronological Classics: Beryl Booker 1953-1954, The Chronological Classics: Beryl Booker 1946-1952, Paris Genres Swing music, Post-bop, Cool jazz Similar People Mary Osborne, Duane Tatro, Slam Stewart, Don Byas, Montego Joe | ||
Don byas with beryl booker trio i should care
Beryl Booker (June 7, 1922 – September 30, 1978) was an American swing pianist of the 1950s.
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Born in Philadelphia, she played with Slam Stewart's trio in 1946, and played off and on with him until 1951. She also played accompaniment for Dinah Washington. In 1951 she became part of the newly formed Austin Powell Quintet (consisting of former Cats and the Fiddle members Doris Knighton, Johnny Davis and Stanley Gaines, and also Dottie Smith) which recorded one Decca single entitled "All This Can't Be True" before disbanding. In early 1952, Booker led a quintet which played Birdland, featuring Don Elliot, Chuck Wayne, Clyde Lombardi and Connie Kay. Recordings with Miles Davis sitting in on the group have been preserved. In 1953, she formed her own trio with Bonnie Wetzel and Elaine Leighton. This group toured Europe in 1954 as part of a show entitled "Jazz Club USA", which featured Billie Holiday. After another stint with Dinah Washington in 1959, she slipped into obscurity. In the 1970s she continued to play and record with small groups.