Bubba Kolb

Franklin Dial "Bubba" Kolb (born September 13, 1940 in Durant, Oklahoma) is an American jazz pianist and trombonist who, from 1975 to 1981, led a jazz trio, "The Bubba Kolb Trio," in residence at the World Village Lounge at the Lake Buena Vista Village, Florida. The trio backed major jazz artists appearing nightly as guests, two-weeks each, year-round. The artists included Carl Fontana, Rich Matteson, Benny Carter, Zoot Sims, Clark Terry, Urbie Green, Hank Jones, Red Norvo, Charlie Byrd, Barbara Carroll, Clark Terry, Barney Kessell, Buddy Tate, Buddy DeFranco, Louis Bellson, Marian McPartland, Art Farmer, Kai Winding, Kenny Burrell, Flip Phillips, Al Grey, Bobby Hacket, Pee Wee Erwin, Vic Dickenson, Milt Jackson, James Moody, Ira Sullivan, Billy Taylor, Teddy Wilson, Laurindo Almeida, Art Pepper, Bucky Pizzarelli, Frank Rosolino and Jimmy Forrest.

Bubba Kolb
Red Holloway, Bubba Kolb, and Sonny Stitt
at the World Village Lounge, Walt Disney World
1970s; photo by Laura Kolb
Background information
Birth nameFranklin Dial Kolb
Born (1940-09-13) September 13, 1940
Durant, Oklahoma, U.S.
Genresjazz, big band
Occupation(s)leader, jazz pianist, trombonist
Instrumentspiano, trombone
Years active1960s-present

The Bubba Kolb Trio at the World Village Lounge

The Bubba Kolb Trio initially consisted of Kolb on piano, Harvey M. Lang, Jr. (1929–1998) on drums, and Louise A. Davis (née Stuart; born 1929) on bass. The project, originally a market test, was adopted by Disney to promote jazz with the aim of developing a venue of major rank for big name jazz artists.[1]

Kolb also led the Disney All-Stars—with David Allen Joy (born 1953) on trumpet, Keith C. Wilson (born 1959) on drums, and Donald S. Mikiten (born 1933) on sax, and Rondal Miller on bass—at the 1986 Montreux International Jazz Festival in Switzerland.[2] They performed July 5 at the Montreux Casino.

Bob Cross (William Martin Cross, Jr.; 1917–2003), an orchestra leader who had moved to Orlando in 1971 to work as an entertainment booker at Walt Disney World, pioneered the World Village Lounge jazz concept that lasted two decades.[3]

In the 1980s, Kolb was replaced by Donald E. Scaletta (born 1937) and Davis was replaced by Clifford Brown's ex bassist, George Morrow (1925–1992). When Lang died, Barry V. Smith (born 1957), and sometimes Don Lamond (1920–2003) took over on drums.

Selected discography
Rich Matteson (bass trumpet), Wayne Harrison (trombone), Bubba Kolb (piano), Leon Breeden (director)
Recorded in Denton, Texas, December 2, 1969
  1. The song is you
Recorded in Denton, Texas, December 12, 1969
Rich Matteson (bass trumpet), Wayne Harrison, (trombone), Bubba Kolb (piano), Dave Hungate (bass), Matt Betton (drums), Leon Breeden (director)
  1. The song is you
Denton, Texas, April 21, 1970
Jim Sharples (tenor sax), John Eplen (vibes, arranger), Bubba Kolb (piano), Dave Hungate (bass), Duane Durrett (drums)
  • Swingin' Jazz Bands, Volume 3, Joe Venuti Quartet, Alphorn Records ALH-136
Joe Venuti (violin) Bubba Kolb (piano), Louise Davis (bass), Harvey Lang (drums)
Recorded in 1976
  • Bubba Kolb, Under Full Sail NR11692
Recorded at Bee Jay Recording Studio,[4] Orlando, Florida, 1980[5]
Bubba Kolb (piano), Louise Davis (bass), Harvey Lang (drums), Marian McPartland (piano 1)
Recorded at the World Village Lounge, Disney Village, Florida, February 6 & 8, 1982
Zoot Sims (ts) Bubba Kolb (piano), Louise Davis (bass), Harvey Lang (drums)
  • Summertime, Hugh Barlow and Glenn Zottola, Euphonic Productions, Tampa, Florida HBP1193 OCLC 683049232
Recorded in Tampa, Florida, 1993
Glenn Zottola (trumpet 1, flugelhorn, alto sax, tenor sax), Bubba Kolb (piano), Charles Silva (bass), Hugh Barlow (drums)

Education

In junior and senior high school, Kolb studied trombone and arranging with Bob Seibert (Robert M. Seibert) in Dallas. He studied piano at the University of North Texas College of Music, where he was a pianist with the One O'Clock Lab Band (1969–70) and earned a Bachelor of Music degree (1971).

Personal life

On February 3, 1970, Bubba married flutist Laura Ann Dean (born 1946) in Denton, Texas.

References

General references

Inline citations

  1. Susan Barbosa (1947–2002), Village Lounge Has Talented Trio as Band, The Ledger, July 6, 1979, Section C, pg. 1
  2. Tom Duffy, Disney Will Be Heard From When Music Starts In Montreux, Orlando Sentinel, July 6, 1986
  3. Dorimar Mercado, Orchestra Chief Bob Cross Shaped Music For Disney Venues, Nixon, Orlando Sentinel, May 2, 2003
  4. Recording Studio Has Only Feature in the Country, Lakeland Ledger, April 22, 1978, pg. 4B
  5. Bee Jay Recording Studio was owned by Eric Tener Schabacker (born 1943); he sold it in the 1980s and now lives in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
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