Felix and All the Cats

BERT, EDDIE: Trombonist.

Eddie Bert

In his teens he studied with Benny Morton and he later learned from the playing of his friend Trummy Young. At the age of 18 he joined Sam Donahue's band; he recorded his first solo, on Jersey Bounce, in 1942 as a member of Red Norvo's orchestra.

He played with Charlie Barnet (1943) and Woody Herman (1943-1944), then, after army service, performed and recorded with the bands of Herbie Fields (1946), Stan Kenton (1947-1948, 1950-1951), Benny Goodman (1948-1949), Herman (1950), Ray McKinley (1952), and Les Elgart (1954).
He also began to work in small groups, joining the three-trombone ensemble led by Bill Harris (1952), recording as a leader (1952-1955), and leading groups regularly on Monday nights at Birdland, New York (from 1955); he belonged briefly to Charles Mingus's Jazz Workshop (1955-1956).

While continuing his career in jazz Bert played in Broadway theaters with Elliot Lawrence from 1954 to 1968, and gained a degree in music education from the Manhattan School of Music (1957).
He played again with Goodman (1957-1958) and Mingus (1962) and with the saxophonist Gil Melle (1962) and Thelonious Monk (1963-1964). From 1968 to 1972 he worked on Dick Cavett's television show, during which he also toured Europe with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Orchestra. In 1978 he recorded with Sal Salvador's sextet, and he also made recordings in big bands led by Lionel Hampton (1978) and Teo Macero (1983). Bert's trombone playing is noted for its strength and adaptability.