Allegro
Requiem
Volume CIII, No. 7/8July, 2003
Louis Adler – Bass
Joseph W. Barufaldi – Saxophone
Ovid Bastien – Bass
Peter Compo – Violin
Andrew F. Fitzgerald – Clarinet
Ruth Freeman-Gudeman – Flute
Ignatius N. Gennusa – Clarinet
Charles K. Johnson – Trombone
Leo Kinstler – Trumpet
Jimmy Knepper – Trombone
Fred Noble – Piano/Composer/Arranger
Charles O’Kane – Saxophone
Charles J. Scardino – Bass
Anthony Silano – Piano
Ruth Freeman-Gudeman
Ruth Gudeman, 88, a flutist and an 802 member since 1937, died on April 20.
Ms. Gudeman attended Cleveand Institute of Music, Oberlin and Juilliard, where she studied with Georges Barrere.
She was the first woman to give a major recital in New York City at Town Hall, and later performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Radio City Music Hall.
Ms. Gudeman was on the faculty at Juilliard, where she taught thousands of flute students over the years She was also a member of the Chautauqua Symphony, and was selected for Who’s Who in American Women.
Ms. Gudeman retired to Sebastian, Fla. in 1977 with her husband Hans and continued to entertain at local venues. She formed the Family Trio with her sister, violist Betty Haines and son, Ralph Gudeman. They performed at several locations in Florida and New York.
In 2001, Ms. Gudeman moved to Mobile. She was active in performances at her church.
She is survived by her sister Betty, sons Charles and Ralph, and grandchildren Emily, Andrew, Susy, Beth and Kari.
Jimmy Knepper
Jimmy Knepper, 75, a trombonist and an 802 member since 1950, died on June 14.
Mr. Knepper was a featured soloist in many bands, big and small, starting when he was a teenager. Later, he played with several well-known big bands, including those of Charlie Barnet, Woody Herman, Claude Thornhill and the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra.
Starting in 1957, he began working with bassist and composer Charles Mingus. He played on some of Mingus’ most famous albums including “The Clown,” “Tijuana Moods,” and “Mingus Ah Um.” But his relationship with Mingus became rocky when Mingus reportedly hit Knepper in the mouth, an injury that hurt his embouchure for years.
Later, though, Mr. Knepper collaborated with Mingus again, on “Let My Children Hear Music” in 1971, at a Carnegie Hall concert in 1976 and on the last three albums Mingus recorded before his death in 1979. And he played in a Mingus tribute band, called Mingus Dynasty, in the 1980’s.
During his five years with Mingus, he also worked with other bandleaders, among them Stan Kenton. In 1960 he toured Africa with a combo led by Herbie Mann. In 1962 he was a member of the Benny Goodman ensemble that toured the Soviet Union.
Mr. Knepper also toured as a freelance soloist and even played in a few Broadway pits.
He is survived by his wife Maxine, who used to be an 802 member when she played jazz trumpet. He is also survived by his daughter Robin and four grandchildren.
Fred Noble
Fred Noble, 89, a pianist, composer and arranger, and an 802 member since 1946, died on April 18.
Mr. Noble began his career playing in small clubs in New Jersey and New York.
He joined Shep Fields and his Rippling Rhythm Orchestra during the Big Band era. During World War II he toured Europe with the USO, entertaining the troops.
In 1955, Mr. Noble and his family followed the Shep Fields Orchestra when it moved to Houston to be the house band at the Shamrock Hotel, where they accompanied many star performers.
He later went on to form his own band and played at many local venues.
He is survived by his wife Olga, daughters Julie and Toni, and grandchildren Stacey, Christianne, Zachary and Melissa.