James (Jimmy) Maxwell

Jimmy Maxwell (January 9, 1917 – July 20, 2002) was an American swing jazz trumpeter.

Maxwell played cornet from an early age, studying with Herbert L. Clarke in the early 1930s. He played with Gil Evans (1933–34), Jimmy Dorsey (1936), Maxine Sullivan, and Skinnay Ennis before joining Benny Goodman's band from 1939-43. He also played with Goodman later in life, including on his tour of the Soviet Union in 1962. He worked as a studio musician for NBC from 1943, playing on The Perry Como Show (1945–63), The Patti Page Show, the Pat Boone Show, and The Tonight Show (1963–73). He played first trumpet on hundreds of recordings and commercials from 1950-1980. In addition, he worked as a sideman for, among others, Woody Herman (1958), Count Basie, Duke Ellington (1973), Oliver Nelson, Gerry Mulligan, Maynard Ferguson, Quincy Jones (1964), the New York Jazz Repertory Company, and Chuck Israels's National Jazz Ensemble.

Of his sideman jobs, he is cited as having played trumpet in the Henri René orchestra for Eartha Kitt's first five albums; RCA Victor Presents Eartha Kitt (1953), That Bad Eartha (EP) (1954), Down To Eartha (1955), That Bad Eartha (LP) (1956), and Thursday's Child (1957), all with RCA Victor. Maxwell played the trumpet solo theme for the soundtrack of The Godfather. He also taught from the late 1970s onwards.

Later in life Maxwell worked with Dixieland jazz and swing ensembles such as Dick Sudhalter's New California Ramblers. He led one session for Circle Records in 1977. He retired from recording and performing later in life but still taught music until 2001, and died the next year.

Birth and Death Data: Born January 9, 1917 (Stockton), Died July 20, 2002 (Great Neck)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1945 - 1964

Roles Represented in DAHR: trumpet

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

Recordings (Results 76-90 of 90 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Signature SRC 189 10-in. 1945 22 steps from the corner Johnny Bothwell Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 190 10-in. 1945 Strange feeling Johnny Bothwell Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 281 10-in. 1946 Etude Brutus Will Bradley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 289 10-in. 1946 If I'm lucky Will Bradley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 290 10-in. 1946 Sooner or later Will Bradley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 291 10-in. 1946 Turn the knob on the left to the right Will Bradley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 417 10-in. 1947 If there is someone lovelier Will Bradley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 418 10-in. 1947 Celery stalks at midnight Will Bradley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 419 10-in. 1947 Easy ride Will Bradley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 514 10-in. approximately 1947 Lonely moments Will Bradley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 515 10-in. approximately 1947 Bop 'n' boogie Will Bradley Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 564 10-in. approximately 1947 What is this thing called love? Anita O'Day instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 565 10-in. approximately 1947 Hi ho trailus boot whip Anita O'Day instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 566 10-in. approximately 1947 I told ya I love ya Anita O'Day instrumentalist, trumpet  
Signature SRC 567 10-in. approximately 1947 It's different when it happens to you Anita O'Day instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 76-90 of 90 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Maxwell, James (Jimmy)," accessed April 25, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330394.

Maxwell, James (Jimmy). (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 25, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330394.

"Maxwell, James (Jimmy)." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 25 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/330394

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

Feedback

Send the Editors a message about this record.