Porter Kilbert

Porter Kilbert (June 10, 1921 – October 23, 1960) was a jazz alto and tenor saxophonist.

In September 1942, he replaced Preston Love as lead alto saxophonist in Nat Towles' band, before going on to spend two years with Benny Carter's band, playing in line-ups including Willard Brown, Curly Russell, Max Roach, Oscar Bradley, Ulysses Livingston, Sonny White, Teddy Brannon, Bumps Myers, Gene Porter, Alton Moore, J.J. Johnson, Shorty Haughton, Claude Dunson, Snooky Young, Freddie Webster, Gerald Wilson, and Jake Porter.

After a brief spell with Roy Eldridge's band, he joined Red Saunders' band in New York in September 1946. The band later took up residency at Chicago's Club DeLisa, and Kilbert would remain with the Saunders band until January 1952, when he left to form his own band.

In December 1946, he was in a line-up led by Coleman Hawkins, recording for Prestige, with Fats Navarro, Milt Jackson, JJ Johnson, Hank Jones, Curley Russell and Max Roach.

In 1947, he led an orchestra backing Clarence Samuels recording for Aristocrat.

In 1954, he was a member of the Horace Henderson big band and in 1955 and 1956, he participated in a series of "battles of the saxes" with Tom Archia at the C&C Lounge.

In 1960, having recorded the previous year for bandleader Quincy Jones, featuring as soloist on some of the tracks, he toured Europe with Jones' big band (with fellow altoist Phil Woods).

Birth and Death Data: Born June 10, 1921 (Baton Rouge), Died October 23, 1960 (Chicago)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1946 - 1952

Roles Represented in DAHR: alto saxophone

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

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 73335 1/31/1946 Baby that'll be the day Roy Eldridge Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73336 1/31/1946 All the cats join in Roy Eldridge Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73337 1/31/1946 Poor John Roy Eldridge Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 73338 1/31/1946 Ain't that a shame Roy Eldridge Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 81695 10/9/1951 Cold, cold heart Horace Henderson Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 81696 10/9/1951 I can't help it Horace Henderson Orchestra instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 81697 10/9/1951 I ain't in the mood Donna Hightower instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 81698 10/9/1951 Cry Donna Hightower instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82244 2/3/1952 Honest and truly Donna Hightower instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82245 2/3/1952 I found a new love Donna Hightower instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82635 4/4/1952 Kiss me baby Donna Hightower instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82636 4/4/1952 You had better change your ways Donna Hightower instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82637 4/4/1952 Don't you think I ought to know Donna Hightower instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82638 4/4/1952 The face in the mirror Donna Hightower instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82639 4/4/1952 Farewell blues Donna Hightower instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82640 4/2/1952 Don't cry baby Floyd Smith instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82641 4/2/1952 After hours Floyd Smith instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82642 4/2/1952 Me and you Floyd Smith instrumentalist, alto saxophone  
Decca 82643 4/2/1952 You may be trash to someone Floyd Smith instrumentalist, alto saxophone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Kilbert, Porter," accessed March 28, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/325228.

Kilbert, Porter. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 28, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/325228.

"Kilbert, Porter." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 28 March 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/325228

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