Hot Lips Page

Renowned as both a leading swing trumpeter and a skilled blues singer, Hot Lips Page died too soon and left an enormous gap in jazz; musicians of every background held him in high regard. In Texas during the 1920s he first honed his craft, serving in Ma Rainey’s backup ensemble. From 1928 to 1931 he played with Walter Page’s Blue Devils, after which he entered Bennie Moten’s Kansas City outfit and participated in its notable 1932 recording date. He continued freelancing around Kansas City until 1936, when he became one of the standout members of Count Basie’s orchestra; however, Joe Glaser engaged him as a featured soloist just before Basie gained widespread recognition. Page’s own large ensemble fared reasonably well during the late 1930s and cut sides for Victor, yet historians note that traveling east alongside Basie would likely have brought him far greater prominence. Between 1941 and 1942 he ranked among the leading sidemen in Artie Shaw’s orchestra, after which he spent the balance of his career as a freelance player, appearing on numerous all-star sessions and remaining a favored presence at jam sessions.