Biography
3 August 1917, New York City, New York, USA, d. 8 July 1971, New York City, New York, USA. Shavers took up trumpet in his teens and played with various minor bands before joining Tiny Bradshaw in 1937. In the same year he played with Lucky Millinder, Jimmie Noone and John Kirby. The Kirby sextet proved an ideal setting for him, both as trumpeter and arranger, and he stayed for seven years. Among his compositions written during his time with Kirby are ‘Pastel Blue’, which with lyrics added became ‘Why Begin Again’, and ‘Undecided’, which became a jazz standard in its own right and with added lyrics a hit for Ella Fitzgerald. In 1944 he left Kirby for the Tommy Dorsey orchestra, where for a decade he was featured soloist. He made records throughout these years with various leaders, including a session under the nominal guidance of Herbie Haymer that featured Nat ‘King’ Cole and Buddy Rich. This set was issued, fluffs, retakes,...
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