Phineas Newborn Jr.

American jazz pianist

Phineas Newborn Jr. (December 14, 1931 – May 26, 1989) was an American jazz pianist, whose principal influences were Art Tatum, Oscar Peterson, and Bud Powell.

Newborn was born in Whiteville, Tennessee, and his younger brother, Calvin, a jazz guitarist. He studied piano as well as trumpet, and tenor and baritone saxophone. Before moving on to work with Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus, and others, Newborn first played in an R&B band led by his father on drums, with his brother Calvin on guitar, Tuff Green on bass, Ben Branch and future Hi Records star Willie Mitchell. The group was the house band at the now famous Plantation Inn Club in West Memphis, Arkansas, from 1947 to 1951, and recorded as B. B. King's band on his first recordings in 1949, as well as the Sun Records sessions in 1950. They left West Memphis in 1951 to tour with Jackie Brenston as the "Delta Cats" in support of the record "Rocket 88", recorded by Sam Phillips and considered by many to be the first ever rock & roll record (it was the first Billboard No. 1 record for Chess Records). Among his earliest recordings, from the early 1950s, are those for Sun Records with blues harmonica player Big Walter Horton. From 1956, Newborn began to perform in New York City, recording his first album as a leader in that year, Here Is Phineas for Atlantic Records. His trios and quartets at that time included his brother Calvin on guitar, bassists Oscar Pettiford, George Joyner and drummers Kenny Clarke and Philly Joe Jones. Newborn created enough interest internationally to work as a solo pianist in Stockholm in 1958 and in Rome the following year. He drew much critical acclaim, for both his leonine technique and meticulously artful playing at any tempo. The most often noted feature of Newborn's playing is fast tempo parallel improvisation, two octaves apart in the manner of Oscar Peterson, a method involving intense ambidexterity. On March 16, 1960, 29 year old Newborn replaced Thelonious Monk and performed "It's All Right with Me" on the ABC TV series Music for a Spring Night. Newborn moved to Los Angeles that year, and recorded a sequence of piano trio albums for the Contemporary label. Critics often noted his playing style as being too technical, and Newborn developed emotional problems as a result. He was admitted to the Camarillo State Mental Hospital for some periods, and suffered a nervous breakdown related to conflicts with a record label during his career. Newborn later sustained a hand injury which hindered his playing. Newborn's later work was intermittent due to ongoing health problems. This is most true of the period from the mid 1960s to mid 1970s when he faded from view, underappreciated and underrecorded. He made a partial comeback in the late 1970s and early 1980s, although this return ultimately failed to benefit his financial situation. He died in 1989 after the discovery of a growth on his lungs and was buried in Memphis National Cemetery.

According to jazz historian Nat Hentoff, Newborn's plight spurred the 1989 founding of the Jazz Foundation of America, a group dedicated to helping with the medical bills and other financial needs of retired jazz greats. In the early 1990s the four player Contemporary Piano Ensemble was formed by pianists Harold Mabern, James Williams, Mulgrew Miller, and Geoff Keezer to pay tribute to Newborn; it recorded two albums and toured internationally.

Despite his setbacks, many of Newborn's records, such as Phineas' Rainbow, The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn Jr., and Harlem Blues remain highly regarded. Jazz commentator Scott Yanow referred to Newborn as "one of the most technically skilled and brilliant pianists in jazz." Evidence of his technical prowess can be heard on tracks such as "Sometimes I'm Happy", from the album Look Out – Phineas Is Back!, on which Newborn performs extended, complex, and brisk solos with both hands in unison. Leonard Feather said of him, "In his prime, he was one of the three greatest jazz pianists of all time." Oscar Peterson said, "If I had to choose the best all around pianist of anyone who's followed me chronologically, unequivocally I would say Phineas Newborn, Jr."

Year recordedTitleLabelNotes1956Here Is PhineasAtlanticQuartet, with Calvin Newborn (g), Oscar Pettiford (b), Kenny Clarke (d). LP 12351956Phineas' RainbowRCA VictorQuartet, with Calvin Newborn (g), George Joyner (b), Philly Joe Jones (d). LPM 14211957While My Lady SleepsRCA VictorTrio and String Section, with George Joyner (b), Alvin Stoller (d) and strings arranged and conducted by Dennis Farnon. LPM 14741957Phineas Newborn Jr. Plays Harold Arlen's Music from JamaicaRCA VictorWith orchestra: Ernie Royal (tp), Nick Ferrante (tp), Jimmy Cleveland (tb), Sahib Shihab (as, bars, cl, bcl), Jerome Richardson (ts, fl), Les Spann (g), George Duvivier (b), Osie Johnson (d), Francisco Pozo and Willie Rodriguez (per). LPM 15891958Fabulous PhineasRCA VictorQuartet, with Calvin Newborn (g), George Joyner (b), Denzil Best (d). LPM 18731958Phineas Newborn Plays Again!Edizioni Dell'Isola (Italy)Trio, with Carlo Loffredo (b), Sergio Pisi (d). EIJ 2024 released 19781958Stockholm Jam Session Volume 1SteepleChaseSextet, with Benny Bailey (t), Oscar Pettiford (b) Rune Carlsson (d). SCCD 36025 released 19921958Stockholm Jam Session Volume 2SteepleChaseSextet, with Benny Bailey (t), Oscar Pettiford (b) Rune Carlsson (d). SCCD 36026 released 19931959Piano Portraits by Phineas NewbornRouletteTrio, with John Simmons (b) and Roy Haynes (d). R 520311959I Love a PianoRouletteTrio, with John Simmons (b) and Roy Haynes (d). R 520431961A World of Piano!ContemporaryTrios, with Paul Chambers (b), Philly Joe Jones (d); Sam Jones (b), Louis Hayes (d). S76001961–1962The Great Jazz Piano of Phineas Newborn Jr. ContemporaryTrios, with Leroy Vinnegar (b), Milt Turner (d); Sam Jones (b), Louis Hayes (d). S 76111964The Newborn TouchContemporaryTrio, with Leroy Vinnegar (b), Frank Butler (d). S76151969Please Send Me Someone to LoveContemporaryTrio, with Ray Brown (b), Elvin Jones (d). S 76221969Harlem BluesContemporaryTrio, with Ray Brown (b) and Elvin Jones (d). C 7634 released 19751974Solo PianoAtlanticSolo. SD 16721975SoloL+R (Germany)Solo. CDLR 45020 released 19901976Back HomeContemporaryTrio, with Ray Brown (b), Elvin Jones (d). C 76481976Look Out Phineas Is Back!PabloTrio, with Ray Brown (b), Jimmie Smith (d). 2310 8011977Phineas Is GeniusPhilips (Japan)Trio, with Allen Jackson (b), Clarence Johnston (d). RJ 74201979Tivoli EncounterStoryville (Denmark)Trio, with Jesper Lundgaard (b), Bjarne Rostvold (d). STCD 82211986C Jam BluesPaddle Wheel (Japan)Trio, with Ray Brown (b), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (d). 22OR 505111987 I've Something to SayEmArcy (Japan)Trio, with Jamil Nasser (b) Tony Reedus (d). 20PJ 10148

Year recordedLeaderTitleNotes1958Oscar PettifordFirst BassQuintet and trio, with Lee Konitz (as), Zoot Sims (ts), Kenny Clarke (b). Live recordings released 1995 IAJRC CD 10101958Roy HaynesWe ThreeTrio, with Paul Chambers (b). New Jazz NJLP 82101959Young Men from MemphisDown Home ReunionOctet and quartet, with Booker Little (t), Louis Smith (t), Frank Strozier (as), George Coleman (ts), Calvin Newborn (g), George Joyner (b), Charles Crosby (d). United Artists UAL 40291961Howard McGhee & Teddy EdwardsTogether Again!!! !Quintet, with Ray Brown (b), Ed Thigpen (d). Contemporary M 35881961Howard McGheeMaggie's Back in Town! !Quartet, with Leroy Vinnegar (b), Shelly Manne (d). Contemporary M 35961961Helyne StewartLove MoodsQuartet, with Teddy Edwards (ts, arr), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Milt Turner (d). Contemporary M 36011961Teddy EdwardsGood Gravy!Quartet, with Leroy Vinnegar (b), Milt Turner (d). Contemporary M 3592