Nat Pierce


Nathaniel Pierce Blish Jr., known professionally as Nat Pierce 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.

Biography

Pierce was born in Somerville, Massachusetts. United States. 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.
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, which performed in to the 1990s.
Pierce died of complications from an abdominal infection in Los Angeles, California.

Discography

As leader

As Nat Pierce and His Orchestra
With Frank Capp
With Louis Bellson
  • Drummer's Holiday
  • The Louis Bellson Explosion
With Ruby Braff
With Benny Carter
With Al Cohn
  • The Natural Seven
With Freddie Green
  • Mr. Rhythm
With Coleman Hawkins
  • The Saxophone Section
  • Jazz Reunion with Pee Wee Russell
With Johnny Hodges
  • Triple Play
With Joe Newman
With Specs Powell
  • Movin' In
With Paul Quinichette
  • For Basie
  • Basie Reunion
  • Like Basie!
With Buddy Tate
  • Unbroken
With Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson'
  • ''Clean Head's Back in Town''

    As arranger

With Count Basie
With Bob Brookmeyer
  • Kansas City Revisited
With Woody Herman
  • Woody Herman–1963
With Quincy Jones
  • ''The Birth of a Band!''