Higginbotham, J. C. (aka Jack; Jay C; and “Hlggy”)

Higginbotham, J. C. (aka Jack; Jay C; and “Hlggy”), influential early jazz trombonist; b. Social Circle, Ga., May 11, 1906; d. N.Y, May 26, 1973. A flamboyant, surprising, and expressive soloist in his early years; even when his chops were down in the late 1950s he managed to play with tremendous expressiveness and bluesiness. Two of his brothers were also brass players; “Higgy’s” niece is songwriter Irene Higginbotham. He first played bugle, then his sister bought him his first trombone. Around 1922, he moved to Cincinnati to learn tailoring at a training school, but left to work as mechanic at the General Motors factory. He joined Wesley Helvey’s Band (ca. 1924), led his own band, and also gigged with Wingie Carpenter. In late 1925 he toured with pianist Eugene Landrum’s Jazz Band in the Ragtime Steppers show. In 1926 he was sent for by Wingie Carpenter and joined drummer Eugene Primus’s Band in Buffalo, N.Y; after seven months he joined another band in Buffalo led by a pianist named Jimmy Harrison. While on a visit to N.Y in September 1928 he sat in at the Savoy Ballroom with Chick Webb and with drummer Willie Lynch’s Band. He was subsequently signed by Luis Russell and remained with Russell until 1931. During this period, he also played for two brief spells with Chick Webb. He was with Fletcher Henderson from spring 1932, then with Benny Carter in autumn of 1933. He had a brief absence from music scene until summer 1934, then joined The Mills Blue Rhythm Band (directed by Lucky Millinder). He left in late 1936. He was briefly with Fletcher Henderson early in 1937, then with Louis Armstrong Big Band until November 1940. He and Red Allen had played together in most of these bands and they became fast friends, so he joined the Henry “Red” Allen Sextet (as co-leader) in December 1940 and worked regularly until February 1947. During the late 1940s and early 1950s worked mainly in Boston; from 1956 he began regular appearances at Central Plaza, N.Y, and soon moved into the Metropole and worked there on and off throughout the late 1950s (including several stints with Henry Allen). He took part in the Fletcher Henderson reunion in 1957, did extensive freelance recordings, and went to Europe with Sam Price in October 1958. During the 1960s has regularly led his own band in N.Y and also played many gigs with trumpeter Joe Thomas. He was featured at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1963; he also played in Scandinavia. In December 1966 he briefly returned to his home town in Atlanta to record an LP. He spent several months in the hospital during 1971, but then returned to performing until his death.

Discography

Higgy Comes Home (1966).

Bibliography

C. Jones, J. C. H. (London, 1944).

—John Chilton/Lewis Porter