Jimmy Cleveland

Jimmy Cleveland (born May 3, 1926 - Died August 23, 2008) was an American jazz trombonist born in Wartrace, Tennessee. By the time he joined Lionel Hampton in 1950 Cleveland was already a highly-experienced trombonist, having worked with a band formed by his musical family and in the orchestra of Tennessee State University. With Hampton he played with surging power, a wonderfully rich and warm tone and great blues feeling. A brilliant technician, his playing always had great authority and his prowess made him a much sought-after studio and session musician. After his time with Hampton he played with numerous other big bands, mostly those gathered for one-off recording dates or club and concert engagements.

Jimmy Cleveland is perhaps best-known for his studio recordings with Miles Davis, such as his appearances on "Miles Ahead" and "Porgy and Bess". Cleveland worked with many well-known jazz musicians, including Sarah Vaughan, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Quincy Jones, Lucky Thompson, Gigi Gryce, Oscar Peterson, Oscar Pettiford and James Brown.