American jazz trumpet player Theodore (Fats) Navarro (24/09/1923 – 6/7/50) He was the pioneer of jazz improvisation in the 1940s using the bebop style. Many consider him to be the pioneer of modern jazz trumpet improvisation. He also had a significant stylistic influence on Clifford Brown and other musicians in his short career. Navarro was born to Cuban-Black Chinese parents in Key West, Florida. At six years old, Navarro began to play piano. He didn’t take up music seriously until he was thirteen when he started playing the trumpet. After graduating high school, Navarro wanted to leave Key West and join a dance group headed for the Midwest. After touring with several bands, gaining valuable experience and getting tired of the road, Navarro settled down in New York City in 1946. This is where his playing took off. Charlie Parker, one the most important musical innovators in jazz improvisation, was among his friends. His heroin addiction and tuberculosis caused a gradual decline in his health, leading to his death at twenty-six. Fats Navarro was a member of the Andy Kirk, Benny Goodman and Benny Goodman big bands. He also participated in small group recording sessions alongside Kenny Clarke and Tadd Dameron. Text contributed by users is available under Creative Commons By–SA License. It may also be available under GNU FDL.
