Wellman Braud

Wellman Braud (January 25, 1891 – October 29, 1966) was an American jazz upright bassist. His family sometimes spelled their last name "Breaux", pronounced "Bro".

Born in St. James Parish, Louisiana, Braud settled in New Orleans, in his early teens. He was playing the violin and the upright bass and leading a trio in venues in the Storyville District before 1910. He moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1917. In 1923, he visited London with the Plantation Orchestra, in which he doubled on bass and trombone. Next, he moved to New York City, where he played with Wilber Sweatman's band before joining Duke Ellington. It has been observed by Branford Marsalis that Braud was the first to utilize the walking bass style, that has been a mainstay in modern jazz, as opposed to the 'two-beat' pattern the tuba plays in the New Orleans style. His vigorous melodic bass playing, alternately plucking, slapping, and bowing, was an important feature of the early Ellington Orchestra in the 1920s and 1930s. Braud's playing on Ellington's regular radio broadcasts and recordings helped popularize the slap style of string bass playing, as well as encouraging many dance bands of the time to switch from using a tuba to an upright bass. (Like many of his contemporary New Orleans bassists, Braud doubled on tuba, and he recorded with that instrument on some sides with Ellington).

In 1936, Braud co-managed a short-lived Harlem club with Jimmie Noone, and recorded with the group Spirits of Rhythm from 1935 to 1937. He played with other New York bands including those of Kaiser Marshall, Hot Lips Page, and Sidney Bechet, and returned for a while to Ellington in 1944. In 1956, he joined the Kid Ory Band. In the late 1950s, he joined Barbara Dane's trio alongside pianist/cornetist Kenny Whitson, turning down opportunities to return to Duke Ellington's band or tour with Louis Armstrong.

He is a distant relative of the Marsalis brothers on their mother's side.

He died in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 76.

Duke Ellington subsequently paid tribute to Braud, including the composition ‘Portrait of Wellman Braud’ on his 1970 album New Orleans Suite.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 25, 1891 (St. James Parish), Died October 27, 1966 (Los Angeles)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1926 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: string bass, tuba, composer, songwriter

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 126-150 of 236 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 61945 10-in. 4/15/1937 Born to swing Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 61946 10-in. 4/15/1937 (I'm on a) Sit down strike for rhythm Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 61947 10-in. 4/15/1937 Bluer than blue Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 61948 10-in. 4/15/1937 I'm knockin' at the cabin door Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62442 10-in. 7/23/1937 Lindy hop Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62443 10-in. 7/23/1937 When I went back home Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62444 10-in. 7/23/1937 Let's call it love Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62445 10-in. 7/23/1937 You mean so much to me Lil Armstrong and her Swing Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62830 10-in. 12/1/1937 Sweet Lorraine Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62831 10-in. 12/1/1937 I know that you know Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62832 10-in. 12/1/1937 Bump it (Apex blues) Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62833 10-in. 12/1/1937 Four or five times Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62834 10-in. 12/1/1937 Hell in my heart Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62835 10-in. 12/1/1937 Call me darling, call me sweetheart, call me dear Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62836 10-in. 12/1/1937 I'm walkin' this town Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 62837 10-in. 12/1/1937 Japansy Jimmie Noone Orchestra instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 63393 10-in. 3/10/1938 Good old bosom bread Hot Lips Page and his Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 63394 10-in. 3/10/1938 He's pulling his whiskers Hot Lips Page and his Band instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 63873 10-in. 5/26/1938 Uncle Joe Grant and Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 63874 5/26/1938 I am a woman Grant and Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 63875 10-in. 5/26/1938 Toot it, brother Armstrong-1 Grant and Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 63876 5/26/1938 Blue Monday on Sugar Hill Grant and Wilson instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 64325 10-in. 7/20/1938 I got a feeling for you Tiny Mayberry instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 64326 10-in. 7/20/1938 Someday, someday Tiny Mayberry instrumentalist, string bass  
Decca 64327 10-in. 7/20/1938 Oh! That nasty man Tiny Mayberry instrumentalist, string bass  
(Results 126-150 of 236 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Braud, Wellman," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102897.

Braud, Wellman. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102897.

"Braud, Wellman." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/102897

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