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 26-50 of 92 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 72757 10-in. 3/5/1945 Embraceable you Roy Eldridge Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75584 12/12/1949 Nashville blues Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75585 12/12/1949 We'll build a bungalow Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75738 1/24/1950 Deep river Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 75739 1/24/1950 Siesta at the fiesta Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 81394 8/14/1951 untitled original Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 81395 8/14/1951 Kissing bug boogie Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 81396 8/14/1951 Slick chick on the sly Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 81451 8/24/1951 Shine on harvest moon Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 81452 8/24/1951 Introduction to a waltz Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 81453 8/25/1951 The dipsy doodle Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 81454 8/25/1951 Flagwaver Jerry Gray Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 82166 1/21/1952 on my way (Got my travelin' shoes) Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 82167 1/21/1952 The blacksmith blues Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 82168 1/21/1952 Any time Sy Oliver Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 101000 11/20/1956 Desert sunrise Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 101001 11/20/1956 Congo mambo Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 101002 11/20/1956 My heart stood still Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 101003 11/20/1956 Nice work if you can get it Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 101529 2/1/1957 Cha cha for Gia Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 101530 2/1/1957 Madrid Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 101531 2/1/1957 Sing something simple Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 101532 2/1/1957 You're driving me crazy Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 102212 4/8/1957 Darn that dream Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
Decca 102213 4/8/1957 My baby just cares for me Larry Sonn Orchestra instrumentalist, trumpet  
(Results 26-50 of 92 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Maxwell, James (Jimmy)," accessed November 25, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/330394.

Maxwell, James (Jimmy). (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 25, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/330394.

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

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/330394

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