Freddie Jenkins

In Duke Ellington's Orchestra through the years, there have usually been three different types of trumpet soloists: the wa-wa specialist (starting with Bubber Miley and continuing with Cootie Williams and Ray Nance), a lyrical player (Arthur Whetsol and later Harold "Shorty" Baker), and a "hot" soloist. The latter chair was started by Freddie Jenkins and later on filled by Rex Stewart, Taft Jordan, Willie Cook, Clark Terry, and others. And although he did not play all that high compared to later trumpeters, Jenkins could be considered the first high-note trumpeter with Ellingt...