Role Jazz Pianist Name Nat Pierce | Instruments Piano Occupation(s) Musician, composer | |
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Birth name Nathaniel Pierce Blish, Jr. Born July 16, 1925Somerville, MassachusettsUnited States ( 1925-07-16 ) Associated acts Woody HermanCount BasiePat Moran McCoy Education New England Conservatory of Music Movies Jazz Icons: Woody Herman: Live in '64 Albums 5400 North, Fun, Lullaby of Birdland, Nifty Cat Similar People | ||
Frank capp nat pierce juggernaut band avenue c
Nat Pierce (né Nathaniel Pierce Blish Jr.; 16 July 1925 Somerville, Massachusetts – 10 June 1992 Los Angeles) was an American jazz pianist and prolific composer and arranger, perhaps best known for being pianist and arranger for the Woody Herman band from 1951 to 1955. Pieces by Pierce were predominantly created for use in big bands.
Contents
- Frank capp nat pierce juggernaut band avenue c
- Nat Pierce Frankie Capp Juggernaut Swingin Bandwmv
- Biography
- As Leader
- As sideman
- As arranger
- References
Nat Pierce Frankie Capp Juggernaut Swingin Band.wmv
Biography
Following schooling at the New England Conservatory and working as an amateur musician in the Boston area, Pierce then led his own band which featured Charlie Mariano from 1949 to 1951. After working with Woody Herman from 1951 to 1966 as chief arranger and assistant road manager, Pierce took residence in New York City and freelanced with musicians such as Pee Wee Russell, Lester Young, Emmett Berry and Ruby Braff, to name a few.
From 1957 to 1959 Pierce led a band off and on which featured Buck Clayton, Gus Johnson and Paul Quinichette. He recorded with a number of other well-known musicians as well, including Quincy Jones, Coleman Hawkins and Pee Wee Russell. Pierce was noted for his ability to play piano in the Basie style and appeared on many releases by Basie sidemen. Pierce also arranged the music for The Sound of Jazz, a 1954 CBS television special hosted by John Crosby. Together with Frank Capp he founded the Capp/Pierce Juggernaut Band in 1975.
Pierce died of complications from an abdominal infection in Los Angeles, California.
As Leader
As Nat Pierce and His Orchestra
As sideman
With Louis Bellson
With Ruby Braff
With Al Cohn
With Freddie Green
With Joe Newman
As arranger
With Count Basie
With Bob Brookmeyer
With Woody Herman
With Quincy Jones