* En anglais uniquement
Never a household name,
John Letman nevertheless had a long and frequently productive career as a solid and swinging trumpeter. He worked with
Gerald Valentine in Illinois,
Scat Man Crothers and Jimmy Raschelle in Columbus, OH, and then spent time playing in Chicago with Delbert Bright, Bob Tinsley, Johnny Lang,
Nat King Cole (1938),
Horace Henderson (1941-1942),
Red Saunders (1942), and other local players. After a period living in Detroit (where he worked with
Teddy Buckner and
John Kirby),
Letman settled in New York in 1944 and played with many groups including
the Phil Moore Four,
Lucky Millinder (1945),
Cab Calloway (1947-1949),
Milt Buckner, and
the Count Basie Orchestra (1951).
Letman spent the '50s and '60s mostly working in the studios, on television, and in Broadway shows although he also headed his own combo and recorded occasionally in jazz settings including (during 1958-1960) with
Joe Thomas,
Stuff Smith,
Chubby Jackson, and
Panama Francis.
Letman freelanced for years, playing with
Sam "The Man" Taylor,
Eddie Condon,
Wilbur De Paris,
Claude Hopkins, and many others. He visited Paris in 1968 and made a few recordings (including with
Tiny Grimes and
Milt Buckner).
Letman stayed busy in the '70s, recording (in 1977) with
Lionel Hampton,
Cozy Cole, and
Earl Hines. His New Orleans Blues Serenaders toured Europe during 1985-1986.
Letman recorded as a leader in 1959 (four titles with a quartet that includes pianist
Dick Wellstood), 1960 (a quintet album for Bethlehem) and Black & Blue (1968 with
Hal Singer and
Milt Buckner) in addition to participating on many dates as a sideman. ~ Scott Yanow