Dud Bascomb

Dud Bascomb (May 16, 1916 – December 25, 1972) was an American jazz trumpeter best known for his work with Erskine Hawkins Orchestra. 

He is a 1979 inductee of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Dizzy Gillespie has cited Bascomb as an important early influence.

Dud Bascomb was born as Wilbur Odell Bascomb on May 16, 1916, in Birmingham, Alabama, into a musical family; his father played drums and his mother was a pianist. He was the youngest of ten children and was the elder brother of tenor saxophonist Paul Bascomb. 

Growing up in a musical family, Bascomb first began playing the piano at a young age but settled on trumpet, while still at Lincoln Elementary School in Birmingham, Alabama.

Both he and his brother were members of the Alabama State Teachers College band (the 'Bama State Collegians) from an early age. There, Dud first played with the bandleader Erskine Hawkins (1932).

Bascomb first joined the college orchestra while still in high school in 1932, aged 16. The members of the group quit school in 1934, and the band was eventually renamed the Erskine Hawkins Orchestra.

Bascomb was a major part of the big band until 1944. His solo on "Tuxedo Junction" (Hawkins' version predated Glenn Miller's) was well known, although it was often thought of as being by the leader. He was on scores of records with the orchestra, including "Lucky Seven," "Midnight Stroll," "Bear Mash Blues," "Gin Mill Special," and many others that featured his short but effective statements.

In 1944, Bascomb was persuaded by brother Paul Bascomb to leave Hawkins and co-lead a sextet, which grew into a moderately successful 15-piece big band in that decade.

In 1947, he performed with Duke Ellington for a short time. He then led his own Quintet at Tyler's Chicken Shack in New Jersey for more than three years. 

He spent most of the next 15 years (1950s and 60s) leading his own combos. 

Video: Sweet Georgia Brown

In the 1960s, he often worked in the studios and toured with Sam "the Man" Taylor(with whom he visited Japan three times) and Buddy Tate (with whom he toured Europe). In addition, he recorded with James Brown and worked in pit orchestras of Broadway shows, and appeared on some soundtracks.

He recorded sparingly as a leader; his Savoy Records sessions in 1959-60 were not issued until 1986.

Bascomb's last recording was a reunion date with Erskine Hawkins in 1971, one in which the solo credits were not listed.

Bascomb's son Wilbur Bascomb (24 January 1934) is a celebrated bassist who has played on numerous jazz and funk recordings and collaborated with such music greats as Roy Ayers, George Benson, Hank Crawford, Bo Diddley, Galt MacDermot, Jeff Beck, James Brown, B. B. King, Bernard Purdie, and Mick Taylor.

In 1972, Bascomb shared the stage with his son on the David Frost television show.

Bascomb died on December 25, 1972, in New York City, New York.

• With Erskine Hawkins
  • The Original Tuxedo Junction (Bluebird 9682)
• With Buddy Tate
  • Unbroken (MPS, 1970)