Jazz Way Out

Wilbur Harden was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist, and composer who left an indelible mark on the hard bop and bebop scenes. Born in Birmingham, Alabama, in 1924, Harden's career took off in the 1950s when he began recording with legendary saxophonists Yusef Lateef and John Coltrane, as well as trombonist Curtis Fuller. One of the earliest jazz trumpeters to double on flugelhorn, Harden's distinctive sound can be heard on several seminal albums, including "Jazz Way Out" and "Mainstream 1958: The East Coast Jazz Scene," both collaborations with Coltrane. Before his jazz career, Harden performed R&B with Roy Brown and Ivory Joe Hunter and served in the U.S. Navy. Despite his significant contributions, Harden remains somewhat enigmatic, as he largely disappeared from the music scene after 1960. His legacy endures through his influential recordings and collaborations with some of jazz's most iconic figures.