Barney Bigard

American jazz clarinetist, tenor & alto saxophonist and composer, born March 03, 1906 in New Orleans, Louisiana, died June 27, 1980 in Culver City, California.

Bigard studied clarinet as a youth in New Orleans with Papa Tio & [a=Lorenzo Tio], He first became known as a tenor saxophonist.

After playing in several groups in his hometown, he moved to Chicago where he played with [a=King Oliver] from 1925 until 1927. Chicago also found him working with such greats as [a=Jelly Roll Morton], [a=Johnny Dodds] & [a=Louis Armstrong]. By the end of 1927 he found his place with [a=Duke Ellington And His Orchestra], playing almost exclusively as a clarinetist.

Between 1927 & 1942 as a member of The Ellington Orchestra, he was featured on many of Ellington's classic recordings. [url=http://www.discogs.com/Duke-Ellington-And-His-Cotton-Club-Orchestra-Mood-Indigo-When-A-Black-Mans-Blue/release/4800892]"Mood Indigo"[/url] which Bigard co-composed, was perhaps the most successful of his compositions. His later work was varied and included membership between 1947 & 1955 with [a=Louis Armstrong And His All-Stars].