Background
Harry Lookofsky was born in Paducah, Kentucky in 1913 and studied classical violin in Saint Louis where he joined the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in the mid 1930s.
Harry Lookofsky was born in Paducah, Kentucky in 1913 and studied classical violin in Saint Louis where he joined the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra in the mid 1930s.
His technique became particularly recognized on his album. Lookofsky was one of many early jazz violinists who occasionally played tenor violin, an instrument he cited for its similar tonal qualities to the tenor saxophone. Another relatively unknown unique characteristic about Lookofsky"s playing is that the bebop solos on Stringsville were completely written out and arranged as opposed to improvised as most jazz musicians do.
Following his departure from Saint Louis in 1938, Lookofsky joined the National Broadcasting Company Symphony Orchestra under Arturo Toscanini for a time while continuing to play jazz on the side.
He continued his career as a classical symphony violinist later as concertmaster at American Broadcasting Company following Toscanini"s retirement in 1954. Stringsville was Lookofsky"s one major feature release.
Aside from his classical and studio recording work, he was more often a contributing artist and/or arranger on other"s albums. Over the years, his many jazz collaborators included Quincy Jones, Jaco Pastorius, Sarah Vaughan, George Benson, and Freddie Hubbard.
The arrangement was heavily influenced by classical music
The Ballad Artistry of Milt Jackson (Atlantic, 1959) - Milt Jackson Blues Shout (1960, Atlantic - Leo Wright) The Song Is Paris (1962, Impulse! - Jackie Paris) The Body & the Soul (1963, Impulse! - Freddie Hubbard) Who Can I Turn To (1964, Sony Music - Tony Bennett) Sarah Vaughn Sings the Mancini Songbook (1965, Verve - Sarah Vaughan) Child Is Father to the Manitoba (1968, Columbia - Blood, Sweat & Tears) Stone Flower (1970, CTI - Antônio Carlos Jobim) Marlena (1972, Blue Note - Marlena Shaw) Sophisticated Lou (1973, Blue Note - Lou Donaldson) Polar Air Corps (1974, CTI - Freddie Hubbard) Night Lights (Elliott Murphy album) (1975, Radio Corporation of America - Elliott Murphy) Windjammer (1977, Columbia - Freddie Hubbard) In Your Eyes (1978, Collectables - George Benson) Standards (1998, Rhino - Ray Charles).
The Individualism of Gil Evans (1964, Verve - Gil Evans).
He was also the father of keyboardist-songwriter Michael Brown, who most notably was a founding member of The Left Banke and Stories.