Eddie Bert


Edward Joseph Bertolatus, also known as Eddie Bert, was an American jazz trombonist.

Music career

He was born in Yonkers, New York, United States. Bert received a degree and a teaching license from the Manhattan School of Music. He taught at Essex College, University of Bridgeport, and Western Connecticut State University.
Bert performed and recorded with many bands and orchestras. He spent the most time with Benny Goodman's Orchestra, Charles Mingus, The Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, New York Jazz Repertory Company, The American Jazz Orchestra, Loren Schoenberg Orchestra, and Walt Levinsky's Great American Swing Orchestra.
Bert is featured on hundreds of recordings and recorded extensively as a leader on various labels including Savoy, Blue Note, Trans-World, Jazztone, and Discovery Records. Bert continued to play sold-out shows until his death, at the age of 90, on September 27, 2012, in Danbury, Connecticut.
His photography can be seen on Jazz Giants, To Bird with Love, and The Band that Never Was.

Honors

  • Musician of the Year, Metronome magazine, 1955
  • Grammy for Musician of the Year, 1959
  • Honored at Town Hall, New York City, May 16, 2002
  • Honored at Jazz at the Kennedy Center with Billy Taylor, May 6, 2002
  • Rugers University Jazz Hall of Fame, 2009

    Discography

As leader

  • Encore
  • Let's Dig Bert
  • Musician of the Year
  • Montage
  • Modern Moods
  • East Coast Sounds with Billy Byers & Joe Newman
  • Like Cool
  • Skeleton of the Band
  • Kaleidoscope
  • The Human Factor
  • Live at Birdland
  • ''Live at Capozzoli's''

    As sideman

With Chris Connor
  • Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song
  • I Miss You So
  • Sings Ballads of the Sad Cafe
With Urbie Green
  • The Persuasive Trombone of Urbie Green
  • 21 Trombones
  • 21 Trombones Rock & Blues & Jazz Vol. Two
  • The Message
With Thad Jones & Mel Lewis
  • Central Park North
  • Consummation
  • Suite for Pops
  • Thad Jones & Mel Lewis
  • Thad Jones & Mel Lewis
  • Paris 1969 Vol. 1
  • Basle 1969
  • The Groove Merchant
With Stan Kenton
  • A Presentation of Progressive Jazz
  • Encores
  • Stan Kenton's Milestones
  • Stan Kenton Classics
  • The Kenton Era
  • Popular Favorites by Stan Kenton
  • Artistry in Rhythm
With Elliot Lawrence
  • Plays Gerry Mulligan Arrangements
  • Plays Tiny Kahn and Johnny Mandel Arrangements
  • Swinging at the Steel Pier
  • Big Band Modern
With Charles Mingus
  • Mingus at the Bohemia
  • Pre-Bird
  • The Charles Mingus Quintet & Max Roach
  • Charles Mingus and Friends in Concert
  • The Complete Town Hall Concert
  • Shoes of the Fisherman's Wife
  • Epitaph
With Thelonious Monk
  • At Town Hall
  • Big Band and Quartet in Concert
  • In Person
  • Always Know
  • The Thelonious Monk Memorial Album
With Red Norvo
  • Jazz Concert
  • Town Hall Concert Vol. 1
  • Live from the Blue Gardens
With Chico O'Farrill
  • Jazz
  • 2nd Afro Cuban Suite
  • Cuban Blues
With Buddy Rich
  • Richcraft
  • The Rich Rebellion
  • Both Sides
  • Buddy Rich
With Sal Salvador
  • Shades of Sal Salvador
  • Colors in Sound
  • The Beat for This Generation
  • Starfingers
With Loren Schoenberg
  • Time Waits for No One
  • Solid Ground
  • Just A-Settin' and A-Rockin
  • Out of This World
With Bobby Short
  • Celebrating 30 Years at the Cafe Carlyle
  • How's Your Romance?
  • You're the Top
With others