I Live My Life (1935)

Born into a deeply religious family in Philadelphia on 19th December 1935, Robert Henry Bobby Timmons took his first musical steps at a young age. Taught piano as a child by his uncle Robert Habershaw, who also taught John Coltrane's future pianist Alfred McCoy Tyner, the young Bobby joined a family wide tradition of producing musical prodigies. The son and grandson of ministers, Timmons first performed at the family church where, at times, he played alongside future jazz drummer Albert Tootie Heath. He was awarded a scholarship to the Philadelphia Musical Academy after graduating high school. In 1954, Timmons moved to New York and began a fruitful career as a session musician. His debut recording session was with trumpeter Kenny Dorham in 1956, following which, during '56 and '57, he worked with other pioneering players such as Chet Baker, Maynard Ferguson, Curtis Fuller, Hank Mobley and Lee Morgan.

Robert Henry Timmons (December 19, 1935 – March 1, 1974) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He was a sideman in Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers for two periods (July 1958 to September 1959; February 1960 to June 1961), between which he was part of Cannonball Adderley's band. Several of Timmons' compositions written when part of these bands – including "Moanin'", "Dat Dere", and "This Here" – enjoyed commercial success and brought him more attention. In the early and mid-1960s he led a series of piano trios that toured and recorded extensively.

Do you remember …
… the song at evening and the voice that lulled you to sleep when you were little? A lullaby brings a quiet close to the day, to hours which can be so new and exciting for a child! And if you sing a lullaby to a child yourself, it is a different, but just as emotional and intimate an experience. Both these experiences have inspired us in creating a song recital out of original instrumental works and arrangements. This programme reflects the most important human emotions. It could stand for one day in the life of a child or for the whole course of a life.

Sol Yaged is one of the final living legends from the original era of American Big Band & Swing music. Born 1922, playing clarinet since 1935, Sol has played alongside every jazz great you can imagine from Glen Miller to Lionel Hampton to Gene Krupa. Known as “the disciple of Benny Goodman,” Sol was amazed by Goodman’s abilities and attended nearly every single Benny Goodman orchestra live show, band rehearsal, or recording date. So much so that when it came time to film the 1956 movie “The Benny Goodman Story” Sol Yaged was hired to fly out to Hollywood for a month to teach lead role Steve Allen how to play, look and act like Benny Goodman. Now 95 years old, Sol continues to remain a world-renown clarinetist and legend in the underground jazz, big band and swing communities from players of all ages, especially in his home: New York City.