Lonnie Hillyer


Lonnie Hillyer was an American jazz trumpeter, strongly influenced by Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk
and other bebop legends of that era.
Lonnie Hillyer moved with his family to Detroit at age three, and began studying music at 14 under Barry Harris. In 1960, he moved to New York City, where he played with Charles Mingus, Yusef Lateef, and Clifford Jarvis. Lonnie Hillyer's association with Mingus lasted more than a decade, performing on records such as "My Favorite Quintet" and "Let My Children Hear Music".
In 1966, Lonnie Hillyer and Charles McPherson formed a quintet performed together during the years following. McPherson also grew up with Hillyer in Detroit. Around 1983 he and Charles Rouse formed a jazz quintet, with Leroy Williams, Hugh Lawson and Ben Brown.
Hillyer performed live with many musicians including Thelonious Monk, Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Willie Bobo, Barry Harris, Walter Davis, Jr., Abbey Lincoln, and many others.
He died of cancer in July 1985.
His son, Lonnie D. Hillyer, is a rock bassist.

Discography

As sideman

With Eric Dolphy
With Barry Harris
With Yusef Lateef
With Charles McPherson
With Charles Mingus
With Pharoah Sanders