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Illinois Jacquet

Jean-Baptiste Illinois Jacquet (October 30, 1922 – July 22, 2004) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, best remembered for his solo on "Flying Home", critically recognized as the first R&B saxophone solo. He is also known as one of the writers of the jazz standard "Don'cha Go 'Way Mad."

Although he was a pioneer of the honking tenor saxophone that became a regular feature of jazz playing and a hallmark of early rock and roll, Jacquet was a skilled and melodic improviser, both on up-tempo tunes and ballads. He doubled on the bassoon, one of only a few jazz musicians to use the instrument.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 31, 1922 (Broussard (suburb city of Lafayette, located in Lafayette and St. Martin parishes, Louisiana, United States)), Died July 22, 2004 (Queens (borough in New York City, New York, United States) )

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1941 - 1957

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, leader, composer, songwriter

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

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 34 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor E0VB-4656 10-in. 5/22/1950 My old gal Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, songwriter, leader  
Victor E0VB-4657 10-in. 5/22/1950 Slow down baby Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, songwriter, leader  
Victor E0VB-4658 10-in. 5/22/1950 Hot rod Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, composer  
Victor E0VB-4659 10-in. 5/22/1950 You gotta change Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, songwriter, leader  
Victor D7VB-2186 10-in. 12/12/1947 Robbin's nest Count Basie ; Count Basie Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Victor D7VB-2854 10-in. 12/18/1947 Jet propulsion Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz octet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, composer, leader  
Victor D7VB-2855 10-in. 12/18/1947 King Jacquet Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz octet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, composer, leader  
Victor D7VB-2856 10-in. 12/18/1947 Try me one more time Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet ; Russell Jacquet Jazz octet, with vocal refrain instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, composer, leader  
Victor D7VB-2857 10-in. 12/18/1947 Embryo Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz octet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, composer, leader  
Victor D7VB-2889 10-in. 12/19/1947 Riffing at 24th street Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz nonet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, composer, leader  
Victor D7VB-2890 10-in. 12/19/1947 Mutton leg Illinois Jacquet Orchestra Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader  
Victor D7VB-2891 10-in. 12/19/1947 Symphony in Sid Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader, composer  
Victor D7VB-2892 10-in. 12/19/1947 A Jacquet for Jack the bellboy Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz nonet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader, composer  
Victor D9VB-0581 10-in. 4/6/1949 Big foot Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader, composer  
Victor D9VB-0582 10-in. 4/6/1949 Black velvet Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, composer, leader  
Victor D9VB-0583 10-in. 4/6/1949 B-yot Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader, composer  
Victor D9VB-0584 10-in. 4/6/1949 Adams' Alley Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Instrumental ensemble instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, composer, leader  
Victor D9VB-2760 10-in. 12/14/1949 Blue satin Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, composer, leader  
Victor D9VB-2761 10-in. 12/14/1949 Stay away Illinois Jacquet Orchestra ; Illinois Jacquet Male vocal solo, with jazz/dance band instrumentalist, tenor saxophone, leader, songwriter  
Decca 70100 10-in. 12/24/1941 Just for you Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 70101 10-in. 12/24/1941 Southern echoes Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 70102 10-in. 12/24/1941 My wish Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 70103 10-in. 12/24/1941 Nola Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 70771 10-in. 5/26/1942 Now I know Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 70772 10-in. 5/26/1942 Half a love is better than none Lionel Hampton Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
(Results 1-25 of 34 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Jacquet, Illinois," accessed December 25, 2025, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/323040.

Jacquet, Illinois. (2025). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved December 25, 2025, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/323040.

"Jacquet, Illinois." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2025. Web. 25 December 2025.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/323040

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