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Chris AlbertsonJazz journalist, writer and music producer
Date of Birth: 18.10.1931
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Chris Albertson: A Life Devoted to Jazz
- Pioneer of Music Recording
- Groundbreaking Radio and Record Productions
- From Prestige Records to Broadcasting
- BBC Consultancy and Television Pioneering
- Grammy-Winning Archivist and Author
- Later Career and Legacy
Chris Albertson: A Life Devoted to Jazz
Early Life and InfluencesChris Albertson was born on October 18, 1931, in Reykjavik, Iceland. He embarked on an educational journey that spanned Iceland, Denmark, and England, culminating in his study of commercial art in Copenhagen. In 1947, a chance encounter with Bessie Smith's music on Danish radio ignited Albertson's profound love for jazz and blues.
Pioneer of Music Recording
In 1953, Albertson began his career in music by recording the performances of British jazz musicians Ken Colyer, Chris Barber, and Lonnie Donegan. These recordings, later released by Storyville Records in Denmark and Tempo Records in the UK, remain part of the studio's catalog. After serving as a disc jockey on the Icelandic Air Force radio station, Albertson immigrated to the United States in 1957.
Groundbreaking Radio and Record Productions
Albertson landed a position at commercial radio stations WCAU in Philadelphia and WHAT-FM, where he aired a 24-hour jazz format. During this time, he conducted numerous interviews, including a rare session with legendary tenor saxophonist Lester Young. From 1960 to 1961, Albertson excelled as a producer for Riverside Records, most notably arranging and recording the final sessions of blues singer Ida Cox.
From Prestige Records to Broadcasting
Albertson subsequently worked as a producer for Prestige Records, where he orchestrated sessions for guitarist and vocalist Lonnie Johnson. He established his own production company and collaborated with renowned musicians like Howard McGhee, Roy Eldridge, and Bud Freeman.
BBC Consultancy and Television Pioneering
In the mid-1960s, Albertson moved from his role as general manager of WBAI in New York City to become a consultant for the BBC in London. There, he adapted British radio programs for distribution in North America. As a host and producer of "The Jazz Set," a weekly television show that aired nationwide in the United States, he welcomed guests such as Charles Mingus, Bill Evans, and Randy Weston.
Grammy-Winning Archivist and Author
Albertson's reissue work for Columbia Records, including the complete Bessie Smith recordings, earned him two Grammy Awards, the Billboard Trendsetter Award, and the Montreux Jazz Festival Grand Prix. In 1972, he published a biography of Bessie Smith, which was revised and expanded by Yale University Press in 2003.
Later Career and Legacy
Throughout his career, Chris Albertson has contributed to jazz documentaries, published articles and reviews, and served as editor of Stereo Review magazine for 28 years. He currently resides in New York City and remains an active advocate for jazz through various online initiatives and the ongoing writing of his autobiography.
