Eli Robinson Explained

Eli Robinson
Birth Name:	Eli Robinson
Birth Date:	24 June 1911
Birth Place:	Greenville, Georgia, U.S.
Death Place:	New York City
Genre:	Jazz
Occupation:	Musician, arranger
Instrument:	Trombone
Years Active:	1930s–1970s
Associated Acts:	Count Basie, Buddy Tate, Lucky Millinder

Eli Robinson (June 23, 1908 – December 24, 1972) was a jazz trombonist and arranger.

After working in Cincinnati in bands led by Speed Webb^[1] and Zack Whyte, as well as McKinney's Cotton Pickers, and making his first recordings in 1935 with Blanche Calloway.^[2]

In 1936, he moved to New York City, where he was a member of the Teddy Hill and Willie Bryant big bands and the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. Three years later he played with Roy Eldridge and joined the big band of Lucky Millinder. Beginning in 1941, he spent several years as a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. He returned to working with Millinder, then joined Buddy Tate in 1954. Robinson never recorded as a leader.^[3]

Discography

As sideman

• 1935: "Louisiana Liza" b/w "I Gotta Swing" - Blanche Calloway (Vocalion)^[4]
• 1935: "You Ain't Livin' Right" b/w "Line a Jive" – Blanche Calloway & Her Band (Vocalion)^[4]
• 1939: The Varsity Sessions, Vol. 1 – Roy Eldridge/Buster Bailey (Storyville)
• 1944: "Empty Hearted" b/w "Tush" – Earl Warren & His Orchestra (Savoy)^[5]
• 1944: "Circus in Rhythm" b/w "Tush" – Earl Warren & His Orchestra (Savoy)^[5]
• 1945: "Harlem Nocturne" b/w "Midnight in the Barrelhouse" – Johnny Otis Big Band (Savoy)^[6]
• 1958: Swinging Like Tate – Buddy Tate (Felsted, 2004)
• 1959: Tate's Date – Buddy Tate (Prestige Swingville, 2003)^[7]
• 1970: Unbroken – Buddy Tate Celebrity Club Orchestra (MPS)
• 1993: The Master's Touch - Lester Young (recorded 1944)

Notes and References

1. Book: Wilson, Teddy. Teddy Wilson Talks Jazz: The Autobiography of Teddy Wilson. September 2, 2017. September 1, 2001. A&C Black. 978-0-8264-5797-4. 10.
2. Encyclopedia: The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz . Barry . Kernfeld . Barry Kernfeld . Robinson, Eli . 1052 . Single vol. 1st . 1994 . The Macmillan Press . London . 0-312-11357-9 . [gives birth year as 1908] . registration .
3. Web site: Yanow. Scott. Eli Robinson. AllMusic. 2 September 2017.
4. Web site: Vocalion 3000 - 3500 (1935 - 1937) . The Online Discographical Project . Steven . Abrams . 19 June 2013.
5. Web site: Togashi, Nobuaki . Matsubayashi, Kohji . Hatta, Masayuki . Savoy Records Discography: 1931-1944 . jazzdisco.org . 19 June 2013 .
6. Web site: Togashi, Nobuaki . Matsubayashi, Kohji . Hatta, Masayuki . Savoy Records Discography: 1945 . jazzdisco.org . 19 June 2013 .
7. Web site: Togashi, Nobuaki . Matsubayashi, Kohji . Hatta, Masayuki . Prestige Records Catalog: Swingville 2000, 4000 series . jazzdisco.org . 19 June 2013 .